Pleasant Hills celebrates 27th annual National Night Out with parade

Pleasant Hills Police Sgt. James Lauso spend his 50th birthday much like any other night, driving around his hometown spreading good cheer and shaking hands with supportive residents.

“This community and how they welcome you,” Lauso said while smiling Tuesday evening. “Usually when you’re seeing the police something bad happened. You crashed your car. You’re getting a ticket. You’re house got broken into, something like that.”

This birthday was extra special as it fell on the department’s 27th annual National Night Out celebration.

More than 20 police departments and about a dozen fire departments participated in a parade throughout the borough. Many first responders passed out candy, waved and honked horns at cheering onlookers.

“I love these officers in Pleasant Hills,” said resident Cheryl Stiver. “They’re my favorite people. I’ve always had a lot of respect for police officers. This is a wonderful thing to do to bring the kids out.”

The parade launched from Pleasant Hills Presbyterian Church around 7 p.m. and went throughout the borough for about an hour-and-a-half.

Streets along the route included Sequioa, Nantucket, Delano, Baker and Glenburn drives, West Bruceton, Old Clairton and Curry Hollow roads, Dutch, Arbor and Farm lanes.

Officers not in the parade, like Lauso, went on ahead to visit block parties and gave away treat bags to kids.

Jayme Falconio hosted a block party with several relatives. They hung flags in support of law enforcement.

“We like coming together and seeing everybody in the neighborhood,” Falconio said. “It’s great being in a nice community where it’s very family oriented. We come out every year (for the event).”

Falconio is the wife of Pleasant Hills officer Jim Falconio, who was unable to formally participate in festivities due to injury.

This year marked the first National Night Out celebration for resident Jewely Andre . She brought her 5-month-hold son, Henry, to Falconio’s block party.

She said Henry liked seeing the flashing lights of the emergency vehicles.

“It’s pretty exciting knowing that there are people out there who are going to show up when you need them,” Andre said.

Sadie Johnson, 8, was among several children and adults in the Inglefield Estates housing plan waiting for police to visit. She said she loves the first responders.

At least 500 treat bags filled with light-up toys, a fruit drink and children’s reading materials were handed out.

Pleasant Hills hosted a parade last year but did not make many stops due to the covid-19 pandemic.

Police Chief Brian Finnerty said he noticed more people outside this time around.

“There were more people out in their front yards, having their neighbors or their family over,” the chief said. “That’s what it’s more about, really them getting together in unity as a community. Public safety here and that’s great. We do our part, but they are the support of us. If they are strong with their families as far as being together and relying on each other, that makes our job a lot easier.”

Finnerty commended the various departments who participated as well as the borough’s public works department.

“I think when you have a good core of your public safety, public works and school district people kind of gravitate to these areas to live in,” he said.

Pleasant Hills traditionally celebrated National Night Out about a week before every other department in the country.

Finnerty said the late Chief Floyd Nevling organized it that way so other departments could join Pleasant Hills in its parade and not conflict with other National Night Out a celebrations.

Police departments in the parade this year included Jefferson Hills, Baldwin, Whitehall, Wilkinsburg, Millvale, Mt. Lebanon, South Fayette, West Mifflin, Clairton, Dormont, Scott, South Strabane, Upper St. Clair, Shaler, Ross, West View, Peters, Findley, Springdale, Allegheny County Police, the Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office and Port Authority police.

Fire departments that participated include Munhall, Bethel Park, Pleasant Hills, Brentwood, South Park, Bentleyville, North Strabane and Collinsburg. State police also had a helicopter flying above the parade route. Kennywood brought its trolley.

Members of the Red Knights and Blue Knights international motorcycle clubs helped lead the parade. Those nonprofit groups are made up of active and retired firefighters and police, respectively.

Other local communities celebrate National Night Out on Aug. 3.

To learn more: natw.org