UPPER MACUNGIE TWP., Pa. — Lehigh Valley police officers took back the night Tuesday.
Police departments across the Lehigh Valley held events for National Night Out, a nationwide initiative held on the first Tuesday in August to bring cops and residents together.
- Tuesday was National Night Out, a nationwide initiative to bring police and residents together
- Police departments in the region held events that saw hundreds of attendees
- Upper Macungie's likely was the area's biggest, bringing thousands to Grange Park
"National Night Out enhances the relationship between neighbors and law enforcement while bringing back a true sense of community," according to the event website.
"It provides a great opportunity to bring police and neighbors together under positive circumstances."
National Night Out website
"Furthermore, it provides a great opportunity to bring police and neighbors together under positive circumstances."
At least 10 police departments in the region held National Night Out events.
The clear blue skies and good weather brought hundreds of attendees to events in Easton and Allentown, and thousands to Upper Macungie’s event.
Upper Macungie’s event
Upper Macungie’s National Night Out event had rides, a helicopter liftoff, K9 demonstrations, food trucks, a car show, live music, face painting and a photo booth.
Upper Macungie’s National Night Out eventPolice Lt. Peter Nickischer said a big part of the event is having officers available to interact with the public.
"We have a lot of officers just walking around with the hopes of people just approaching us and saying, 'Hey, you know, I live on Main Street. And I've been noticing that we were having a traffic issue,' for example," Nickischer said.
"Great. We want that dialogue to start."
Many people who don’t live in the township attended the event. Whitehall Township resident Kathy Hein said she attended Upper Macungie’s event because she knew people there and it had more to offer.
The only problem was the long lines, Hein said.
“We waited like 45 minutes for a bike helmet,” she said. “But you know what? Everybody's laughing and talking in line. It's just really like a nice community feel.”
Upper Macungie resident Brandi Danner said she came because her two young sons love fire trucks and police cars. But she said she also saw it as an educational opportunity.
“They can also learn that they're safe people to approach if they would ever need help, and that the role that they serve for our community is extremely important,” Danner said.
Upper Macungie resident Tanisha Angrand came with her family, including her daughter Emily Taylor, who participated in Upper Macungie’s Junior Emergency Services Academy.
Angrand said she thinks it’s important that community members were able to interact with police officers at the event.
“I think it helps with safety, letting the community know that we are safe and that we have the Upper Macungie police officers right here if we need help,” Angrand said. “We can call 911 and they will be there.”