McALLEN — With threats of thunderstorms looming over the afternoon sky, the McAllen Police Department along with McAllen Crime Stoppers and the Hidalgo County District Attorney’s Office celebrated the 37th Annual National Night Out event outside the department Tuesday evening.
(Xavier Alvarez | [email protected])
The event was originally going to be held at the municipal park next door but the forecast forced the police to set up elsewhere.
Authorities used several police cruisers’ emergency lights as a guide toward the north entrance of the department where participants lined up in their vehicles to receive goodie bags for their kids.
Due to the rising number of COVID-19 cases continuing to plague everyday life, the McAllen Police Department decided on a different method of interacting with the community.
“We didn’t have (National Night Out event) last year because of COVID,” Cpt. Irene Luna said. “This year we decided to do a little something for the community, a drive thru event. We’re giving out goodie bags with school supplies, a few candies and some safety information for the parents.”
Under normal circumstances, celebrating the night out in McAllen would see police setting up in different parks around the community with music, dancing and presentations on public safety and crime prevention.
Traditionally, night out events were ways for residents to meet the people patrolling and protecting their neighborhoods in order to promote police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie.
(Xavier Alvarez | [email protected])
The night out was first introduced in August 1984 after a local volunteer from Philadelphia named Matt Peskin created the National Association of Town Watch years earlier.
Peskin’s original idea was to connect several established community watch groups in order to share information and resources to stay informed and vigilant, which led to the association’s creation.
When the network began to gain support from law enforcement agencies, crime prevention associations and other groups, National Night Out was created.
Despite the humidity, several officers in uniform and volunteers were handing out and preparing bags for the oncoming vehicles.
Officer Balli was promoting every child to junior police officer by handing them police badge stickers as he spoke to the parents about their child’s school life.
The DA’s office handed out pamphlets on public safety for parents to teach their children about preventing abuse and alerting authorities of any wrongdoing.
“That’s why Crime Stoppers is important because it allows victims or people to report to us while remaining anonymous,” McAllen police Lt. Joel Morales Jr. said.
(Xavier Alvarez | [email protected])
Supplies flew off the tables fast as the line of vehicles in front of the police department grew quickly in several intervals.
McAllen police also encouraged parents to give them or the DA’s office a call if they have questions or need help in teaching their children about any public safety tips provided by the victim unit’s pamphlet.
Crime Stoppers also reminded of the community’s ability to help authorities in crime prevention.
“This is a partnership,” Luna said. “We need the community’s help to fight crime and like (Chief Victor Rodriguez) said, everyone can make a difference in fighting crime.”
