Barbara Lawlor, Nederland. Summer picnics in the park at the end of the day: a get-together with friends and neighbors, but not often with local law enforcement officers.

After the Nederland Police Department’s Night Out two weeks ago, one might wonder why such an event doesn’t happen more often. The first try at bringing law enforcement and the community together was a large success as well as being informative to local families.

NPD Officer Jessica Steele organized the picnic; then the people brought in their dogs, their patrol cars, their fire engines, their hot dogs and their helicopters—all showed up at Guercio Field.

For a while, the Ned officers were busy on an emergency call, but they showed up to meet and greet the public, to give kids badges, tattoos—temporary, of course—and helmets.

Three-year-old Elise Brenick, when asked what her Night Out tattoo said,  replied, “Elise loves mommy.”

Children were allowed to sit in the patrol car and pretend they were driving; sit in a fire engine and pretend they were putting out fires, get up closer to a Flight for Life helicopter.

One of the best parts was eating a hot dog grilled by NPD Chief Paul Carrill. Members of the Nederland Satellite Rotary Club handed out the hot dogs and chips and water. Various local musicians added their voices and instruments to the sound of the chopper going up and down.

The officers had a chance to shake hands with people they have seen but never met. The residents had a chance to see that the officers were much more than uniforms with a radio and gun. They are friendly, generous, and kind people with a job to do: that of protecting the town and everyone in it.

There is sure to be a second Night Out, another chance to strengthen the community network.