Bethel Park brings National Night Out celebration to Miners Memorial Park

Bethel Park police, firefighters and EMS tended to hundreds of people at Miners Memorial Park on Tuesday night.

There was no emergency, though.

The heavy first-responder presence was due to a celebration. It was the borough’s part in National Night Out, an annual community-building campaign through the National Association of Town Watch meant to bolster police/community relations.

“We want to get people out and show that you can come out, and be out safely and get to know people and interact with your neighbors and people from around town,” police Chief Tim O’Connor said. “It gives the police a chance to meet our citizens, or residents. Police are part of the community. We come from the community and this is a good way to get in touch with the community at the grassroots level.”

The department has participated in National Night Out since 2015, although events were canceled last year due to the pandemic.

“We hope to be back every year in some form,” O’Connor said. “There’s national nights out all over the country tonight. … It’s a good way to show you don’t have to fear crime all the time. Get out here and enjoy life.”

The chief took photos with numerous people and received a lot of compliments on the festivities.

“We have great residents here in Bethel Park,” the chief said. “They’re very supportive of the police department. That is well-known by the officers and is not forgotten by us.”

He credited crime prevention Detective Sean Gorman with coordinating the event.

Officers gave out pizza and refreshments. There was a face painter and the South Hills Area Council of Governments lent its Crisis Intervention Response Team vehicle.

Steve Connell of South Park watched as his sons Brady, 5, and Caden, 2, climbing in and out of the CIRT truck. Brady, wearing a Spider-Man T-shirt, struck a champion-like pose with his arms up high on top of the vehicle.

“It’s just a great thing for the community,” Connell said. “Kids obviously love police vehicles, fire trucks, Chase (from Paw Patrol), Kone Ice (food truck). It’s just a great event. I’m surprised by the turnout. It’s amazing.”

At least 200 people played in the park Tuesday.

The Allegheny Chapter of K-Dogs Kidz Motorcycle Mission was on hand to talk with families about various types of bullying and how to identify signs a child might be being bullied.

K-Dogs events coordinator Amy Coyne of Pleasant Hills said her team was grateful the police department asked them to participate.

Justice Palmer, 2, of Bethel Park had a butterfly painted on her face by painter Brie DeNardo of P.G.H. Party Creations while her older brother, Malachi , 3, waited for his turn.

Their finished faces were among the highlights for their mother, Carolyn , who brought the family to experience their first Night Out in the borough.

“I came to see what it was all about,” Palmer said. “I love the community. The thing that stuck out to me is the (anti-) bullying company over here. I am a stickler for bullying, and I fight hard to stop it. That’s what drew me over here with my kids. They like Chase and Paw Patrol.”

Palmer said she knows the borough first responders do their best to protect and serve the town.

“It lets me know that our kids are safe,” she said. “We won’t have any worries all the way around. Our kids are safe, and that’s what I like most.”

There was a short parade of emergency vehicles from Benjamin Franklin Elementary School to the park.

Firefighter Mark Breier and other members of his department gave plastic junior firefighter helmets to children and hosted fire safety talks inside one of their trucks.

Tips include close the bedroom door at night to help prevent the spread of a possible fire, remain calm and have an outdoor meeting spot in case something happens. Placing an article of clothing or a blanket outside a window shows first responders someone might be trapped in that room.

“This is how we get out and teach them,” Breier said about safety talks. “The kids learn this in school. The parents don’t. The worst time for the parents to figure it out is when it’s actually happening. For us, it’s (about) learning and to mingle with them and get (families) to understand what we’re faced with. … It’s a great community event.”