Huge Crowds Attend National Night Out In Lower Bucks County
by Alex Lloyd Gross
Throughout Lower Bucks County, many local police departments held National Night Out celebrations and judging from reports,they were all well attended. What started out as asking people to sit outside with their porch lights on in the 1980’s, has morphed itself into a spectacle that puts public safety on display front and center.
Alex Lloyd Gross Photo- Police in Middletown prepare for a motorcycle demonstration.
In Bristol Township, new Police Chief Charles j. Winik was on hand to welcome people as they got to play on firetrucks or soak township workers in a dunk tank. While the premise was the same, each agency did things different.
At the Bristol Township building, it was full of vendors selling their wares, from t shirts to food products. There even were bounce houses for children to play on. In Middletown, about 20 vendors showed up and the township police were on hand to pass out bike helmets to anyone while food vendors sold their wares. A SWAT truck was on display for people to look at but not explore inside. Officers put on a motorcycle demonstration.
Bensalem had their department gave a K-9 demonstration and had a display of what the township has to offer, from the Crime Scene truck, the mobile command vehicle and even the Copsickle was there to give out free ice cream. If that was not your thing, then free hot dogs always hit the spot.
Alex Lloyd Gross Photo Delaware Valley News.com Children get up close and personal with a police dog in Bensalem
Local politicians were left trying to get to as many departments as they could. Many, like Lower Southampton, Middletown, Falls had booths set up and they were staffed with office staff who gave out writing tablets and took information from constituents.
National Night Out is usually held on the first Tuesday in August.