National Night Out brings police officers, community together in Village of Hempstead
Dozens of people came out to Denton Green Park under full sunshine Tuesday to take part in the event designed for the community and the police to have fun, positive interactions with each other.
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Police officers and the community came together Tuesday night in the Village of Hempstead for National Night Out.
The event was rescheduled after last week's rain.
Dozens of people came out to Denton Green Park under full sunshine Tuesday to take part in the event designed for the community and the police to have fun, positive interactions with each other.
Many of the police officers were out of uniform for the night at Denton Green Park.
The officers were in dunk tanks, playing games with kids, dressed up in costumes and even riding around small trains.
And in the midst of the fun, village leaders tell News 12 that crimes have fallen in the community.
"It has been over two years that we have not had a shooting homicide in the Village of Hempstead and so when people feel safe, they take advantage of the parks and recreation, they take advantage of community events." said Mayor Waylyn Hobbs, Jr.
"Our robberies are down, our assaults are down, our thefts are down." said Assistant Chief of Police Derek Warner.
People in the Village of Hempstead for Tuesday's National Night Out celebration tell News 12 they do feel more comfortable and safer, coming out to community events like this.
"I have noticed that too. And then they're building more buildings, more for the community to you know, be better, more events going on in the neighborhood, it's been very peaceful." said one lifelong village resident.
"It's such a big difference, this is so positive, in the community and such a good thing to have," said a woman who came from Roosevelt for the National Night Out event.
