Tuesday marked the return of National Night Out in the Ranch Cities, bringing the community and first responders together.
Several locations hosted events in the Aubrey and Providence Village, and Aubrey Police Department Chief Richard Brooks, who attended them all, said it was a great chance to see officers engage with the community.
“National Night Out is an awesome event, because the intent is to bring neighbors together so they know each other and then can take care of each other,” Brooks said. “We in the police department need all the eyes and ears we can get, and this is a great opportunity for people to meet one another and then establish a relationship where they take care of each other and they help.”
Brooks encouraged residents to continue to “embrace the National Night Out philosophy” by hosting events in their neighborhood to get better acquainted with their neighbors.
Maricela Jensen and her young daughter Ariena Jensen went to the Pilot Point First United Methodist Church National Night Out for the festivities and the chance to connect.
“There's space for conversation here,” Maricela said.
After moving from Austin to Pilot Point, she appreciates the close-knit community.
“I like the small-town feel,” Maricela said. “Where everybody knows each other. It's so cute like when there's a policeman you see drive by, [and] you know that guy.”
This year, Pilot Point held six block parties spread throughout the city, with games, food and conversation.
“It's great to be able to come out here and get to spend time with people on their terms ... It's not like an enforcement thing. We're just out here to engage with the community,” PPPD Sgt. Andy Biggs said.
Biggs and Officer Dustin Matthews were the first two officers to arrive at the Pilot Point First United Methodist Church.
They immediately started playing cornhole with the kids.
“I've only been a cop since January, but it's great to be out here with everybody,” Matthews said. “I know it's a big thing for our department. It's a big thing for us to get out here.”
The Pilot Point ISD Police Department and the fire department were there, too.
“It's just always great to be able to get out and interact with our community,” Fire Chief Heath Hudson said. “Bottom line, our customers. It's who we serve. It's great to get out here and put names and faces and socialize and have a good time.”
The Cross Roads Police Department took the opportunity to connect with families outside of the town's Chick-fil-A, offering items and bags the families could collect.
The Chick-fil-A cow got in on the fun, as well.
'It's a good opportunity for us to get to know the people that come through our community ... and kind of build relationships with them,' CRPD Chief Shaun Short said. '
He was joined by three other members of the town's police force.
'Our department is very community-oriented, and they like to be engaged with the community, so these kinds of events are great for us,' Short said.
Just up U.S. 377 in Krugerville, National Night Out meant tours of a medical response helicopter; barbecue sandwiches, nachos and hotdogs; kids activities that included the climbing wall, bungee trampoline, mini train and bounce houses; face painting; caricatures; and information booths, all free for the public to enjoy.
Residents who turned out also got the chance to send members of the KVPD plunging into a dunk tank.
'It means a lot to have our citizens and citizens from neighboring communities come out and be a part of our National Night Out,' KVPD Chief Stoney Ward said.
Brandon Stinchcomb, who calls Krugerville home and once served as its police chief, brought a barbecue rig that was used to prepare the bulk of the food for Tuesday's celebration.
'I started here when I was a kid, public works,' he said. 'It's home to me, and always has been, always will be.'
Providence Village resident Sara Sazima, who came with her sister and brought her children to enjoy the Krugerville National Night Out, said she felt the event was important for the kids.
'It's important for the kids to know all about the public servants that serve the community,' Sazima said.
The special nature of National Night Out, Krugerville Mayor Rodney Cagle said, is the way it connects the officers to their communities across the country, and he added that he loved having a 'full-scale first responder presence' from the officers to the Denton County Sheriff's Office as well as the Aubrey Fire Department and PHI Air Medical.
The firefighters even got in on the fun by climbing the rock wall.
'Too many times, these first responders—you meet them in the wrong moment you don't want to remember,' Cagle said. '... Tonight, this is time to bump elbows, break bread. Everything's free. ... It's just a community event.'
Editor & Publisher Abigail Bardwell contributed to this report.
