National Night Out in Cohoes grows to two locations

COHOES, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Communities across the country are celebrating the 35th National Night Out. It’s a night that allows law enforcement and the communities they serve to come together. Over 17,000 communities nationwide will be celebrating National Night Out. Some Capital Region cities with such success they need to now host the event in two locations.

“We got the downtown location, and we got here at Greenbriar Park. For years this was an underutilized park, and we resurfaced the courts, hoops, play set and it's just great to see all the neighbors come out and get together, get to know each other,” said Cohoes Mayor, William Keeler.

As people enjoy the music, games, hot dogs, drinks, snow cones and popcorn they are fostering a relationship between the police and the community. “That's been the focus for the last few years you know interacting with the community it's necessary,” said Keeler.

For it to be successful year after year, the decades old event takes more than just community and cops, “It takes a lot of volunteers, donations, hard work, sweat. We start planning this like, after this ends tonight, we'll be thinking about for next year's celebration,” said the Lansingburgh Neighborhood Watch volunteers.

Officers were out and about. “I work 12:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. So, I really don't get to get out and engage in the community much often. So, being able to get out to do events like this is a good opportunity to be able to engage and you know, learn and get to know Officer Haggray,” said the Officer Haggray.

“I always get stopped. I work 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ‘Officer Kelly, do you have those badges for us?’ and I haven't had them too many times.” Officer Kelly goes on to explain what she and Haggray will be giving out.  “This just says Cohoes Police Junior officer. We've got crayons, coloring books, these pencils are pretty cool because they are red right now, but if they are in the sunlight, it'll turn colors. We got pens that say Cohoes Police Department. And then this will be officer Haggray’s stuff. This is all about evidence tech stuff that she does.”

Todd Waldin, Cohoes Police Chief, says this a great way for his officers to get out there and meet the community. “We have the public safety meeting last night and one of the recurring theme throughout the meeting plus people talking about getting involved in the community and having that bridge between the community and the police.” He said city leaders encouraged people at the public safety meeting to, “come out to meet their neighbors, to meet their Police Department, to meet the officers and to be able to go over some of the things that are very positive in the community and the things that we can help them with to make it safer.”

And some just come to simply enjoy.  “I'm thinking of the music. I love music,” said C. C.

“The police department, well they need to get to know everybody I've been here all my life I've been in co-host all my life the event I think is a great thing for the community,” said Sheila Sumkes.