Police, residents to mingle at National Night Out events

Members of the Murrysville Police Department — and departments all over Pennsylvania — will highlight their capabilities and give officers a chance to mingle with the public at their annual National Night Out celebration Aug. 6.

“It’s a transparent way for the community to see their department up close and personal, to see what their tax dollars pay for,” Murrysville Chief Tom Seefeld said.

National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie, according to NATW.org, the nonprofit that hosts the National Night Out website.

More than 230 police departments in Pennsylvania will participate in the promotion.

The Murrysville event will be from 4:30-8:30 p.m. Aug. 6 at 4200 Sardis Road.

“In the last couple years, we’ve hired some new officers, so it gives the public a chance to meet them,” Seefeld said.

The event will give children and adults a chance to see police equipment, talk with officers and purchase a bite to eat from HOSHI Pgh, Earth Wheel & Fire Pizza, Dads Mobile Grub, Leena’s and Kona Ice.

Similar events will be happening throughout Westmoreland County, including in Penn Township, where Chief John Otto said it gives police a chance to connect with the community.

“It’s truly an opportunity to interact with people in your community, and hopefully they can gain a little different perspective for what it is that we do,” Otto said.

North Huntingdon Police Chief Robert Rizzo is looking forward to attending his first National Night Out, 7-9 p.m. on Aug. 6 at Excela Square at Norwin. It will bring together emergency crews from North Huntingdon, Irwin and North Irwin including police, firefighters and EMS.

“We kind of wanted to make it a National Night Out for the Norwin community’s first responders,” Rizzo said. “I love to see and talk with people in a less-formal setting, and this will provide that.”

Here are other local National Night Out events happening in the region:

• Monroeville: 6-8 p.m. Aug. 6, Monroeville Community Park, 2399 Tilbrook Road, 412-856-3324

• Latrobe: 5:30-8 p.m, Aug. 6, Memorial Stadium, 131 Irving Avenue

• Penn Township: 5-8 p.m. Aug. 6, Alison Biondi Gymnastics, 4066 Route 130

• CSAY National Night Out Northmoreland, 5-8 p.m. Aug. 7, Northmoreland Park, 280 Markle Road, Apollo

• Ligonier: 5-6 p.m. Aug. 6, 5:30-9 p.m., Ligonier Lot A, West Church Street & Oak Alley

• Norwin: 7-9 p.m., Aug. 6, Excela Square at Norwin, 8775 Norwin Ave., North Huntingdon

Is your local police department hosting a National Night Out event? Email us and let us know!