Madison police build camaraderie with residents in National Night Out. See details here

Every first Tuesday of October, cities throughout the nation put on National Night Out as a way to build up relationships between police, firefighters and the people they serve. Tuesday night, Oct. 5, Madison Police traveled to different neighborhoods in an attempt to connect with residents over games, music and food.

National Night Out began in 1984 as a way to build camaraderie between law enforcement and citizens under the ultimate goal of creating safer neighborhoods. Since then, neighborhoods throughout the nation have hosted cook-outs and activities to thank their service members.

Madison County Police Lt. Micah Taylor said the event is also an opportunity to hear some of the concerns people may have.

“We tell them if we have any problems going on in their neighborhood and then they tell us if they have any problems going on,” Taylor said. “That’s really what National Night Out is, just getting to know the community, the issues at hand, and how we can help.”

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Madison is not known for a high crime rate, so for the community, National Night Out is more about police officers connecting with residents to build personal relationships rather than finding ways to curb crime. Still, crime is at the heart of National Night Out.

"Events like National Night Out give us both the chance to listen to each different neighborhood's problems ranging from speeding and running stop signs to yes, there's even crime in Madison," Taylor said.

The night began with a donation drive at Webster Animal Shelter where approximately 20 people had gathered. The Madison police have partnered with the shelter for years for National Night Out. Guests enjoyed cookies and animal-themed activities in the parking lot outside the shelter. Taylor and the other officers helped grill hotdogs.

The Madison Library also partnered with the shelter, brought their book mobile and provided a story time for the children. Jill Swan, the public relations representative for the Madison Libraries, said the libraries are always eager to help Webster out.

“Tonight is National Night Out where the police officers and fire department come out and showcase our community a little bit,” Swan said. “And of course, Webster had to be a part of it, and I’m thankful that the library got to be asked to join.”

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The Book Mobile is a library on wheels that library staff take around to different local communities such as daycares, elementary schools and nursing homes. It also provides home-bound services.

The library was there primarily to help raise funds and donations for the shelter.

“It could be monetary, it could be items that the animal shelter needs. Webster Animal Shelter is such a pillar of our community. They do tireless, selfless, thankless work day in and day out," Swan said.

Webster Office Manager Kimberly Miller said Webster’s relationship with the police is vital to keeping the shelter running.

“We can call the Madison Police and they’re there for us no matter what. They help us hand and foot. We work side by side with animal control. All the patrol officers help us look out for the community,” Miller said.

Jean and Pat Dunn were among the small crowd sitting at a picnic table outside the shelter. Jean, a resident of Madison for over 30 years, said she saw the event advertised on Facebook and she and her sister-in-law, Pat, decided to bring their grandchildren who were visiting. She said the event seemed like the perfect opportunity to bring donations and something fun for the grandchildren to do.

Anna Ford, the feline coordinator for Webster, said the night went well, and she had never seen so many people attend their part of National Night Out.

After hot dogs and shelter dogs, the police split into two groups to start traveling to different neighborhoods. Lt. Taylor and Capt. Stephen Patrick rode their motorcycles to Cobblestone.

A small group of people gathered around the neighborhood’s common area as Taylor and Patrick rode in tight circles with flashing lights to signal their arrival. The officers and a few firemen chatted with families over cupcakes. The police also brought activity bags that aim to teach children various safety procedures.

Kathy Sue Wells, manager of Cobblestone, said they usually get about 30-40 people a year at the annual event.

Katie and Cory Castle brought their two children to enjoy the activities, particularly the firetruck. Their son, Anderson, got a tour and pictures with the truck and firemen. Katie said the family has come to the event every year since they moved to Cobblestone in 2020 and they find it a great way to meet their neighbors.

Next, Taylor and Patrick rode to Bradford Place for the biggest event of the night. A crowd of neighbors gathered in yards and the driveway as the Madison Swing AllStars band played.

The driveway decorated with long tables of barbeque and desserts belongs to Gretchen Mahan, who said Bradford Place does a potluck event twice a year to allow neighbors to meet each other. They usually have the Madison Swing All-Stars play because the band director, David Schumer, lives next to her. This potluck coincided with National Night Out.

The neighborhood’s Homeowner’s Association President Andy Reynolds said National Night Out is a way for the community to get together and enjoy food and meet neighbors. He also said it’s a way to show appreciation for police and firefighters. Bradford Place has participated in National Night Out since 1992.

“(National Night Out) is just a community get together for each subdivision to get out, meet your neighbors and just enjoy food and get the community together. We show our appreciation to (police and firefighters) for what they do,” Reynolds said.

President of Summertree Homeowner’s Association Tripp Segars said the main purpose of his neighborhood participating in National Night Out is to show children the importance of the Madison police and firefighters.

“The general purpose of Summer Tree participating in National Night Out is for our kids and our residents to understand what our service personnel here in the city of Madison, namely our firefighters and our police officers do for us,” Segars said. “We really want our kids to grow up knowing how important that is. And of course, it’s always great for them to be able to come and hop on a fire truck and see the police motorcycles and understand that they’re great people who are here to serve and protect.”

As the sun set over Summertree, a firetruck arrived, the clear main event. The children enjoyed getting to climb into the truck and receiving police badge stickers from Taylor and other officers.

The final stop for Taylor and Patrick and their group was Geneva Gardens, a retirement community near U.S. 51. Residents gathered around in their clubhouse and chatted over ice cream and cake.

Patsy Wilkerson, a member of the social planning committee and 20-year resident of Geneva Gardens, said they always provide ice cream because they know the officers get dinner at the other neighborhoods.

Wilkerson said they always have a good turnout for National Night Out and the night serves as a way to honor police and firefighters for “their goodness that they do”.

Gary Peitz, a seven-year resident of Geneva Gardens, sat at one of the tables chatting with officer Chris Wallace. Both he and Wilkerson joked that National Night Out is a good way to thank the police since they are frequently in Geneva Gardens responding to medical emergencies. He said National Night Out is always “fun for us, fun for them.”

The night ended with Taylor and Patrick putting on another motorcycle lights show with the other officers as they drove out of the neighborhood, the residents of Geneva Gardens cheering from the clubhouse porch.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Madison MS police and firefighters participate in national night out