First Precinct hosts National Night Out

Residents, police officers and elected officials gathered at parks across Nassau County for National Night Out on Aug. 3.

The 1st Precinct, which includes Baldwin, sponsored National Night Out events at Veterans Memorial Park in East Meadow and at Cow Meadow Park in Freeport.

National Night Out is a nationwide program that promotes the partnership between police departments and the communities they serve.

The events featured tables with information on different safety programs including Megan’s Law and the relatively new program, REACH (Return Every Adult and Child Home). The REACH Program is designed to help kids with disorders and the elderly. If a person registered in the program ever goes missing, REACH immediately sends out a picture and contact information. Members of the REACH staff were at National Night Out to allow people to sign up their child or loved one.

For kids, there was an array of fun activities available, including free Italian ices, popcorn, face painting and a ventriloquist doll named Jack Ash.

In East Meadow, Legislator Norma Gonsalves and Nassau Deputy Police Chief John Capece honored members of the Young Explorers program, who recently won first place in a national competition.

According to Capece, the Young Explorers program takes kids interested in law enforcement-related activities and introduces them to the aspects of police work. He said the participants do not have to aspire to be police officers, but they should have an interest in the law enforcement field.

There will be an open house for the Young Explorers Program in October.