Come on, it is a summer event in New York City. Try not to steal or rob on this day, because police officers are everywhere.
Tuesday Aug. 4, the 32nd National Night Out Against Crime once again starts in NYC. About 22 police precincts in Manhattan host this “against crime and danger party” around neighborhood.
At 4 P.M. in Columbus Park, there are about 5 to 8 police officers setting up booths. Some are preparing free snacks and free drinks for parents and their children. Others are preparing to hand out safety flyers. Also, there are two inflatable facilities which children could play and jump inside there.
Less than half an hour later, many parents, children and citizens gather around the park to enjoy the party that NY police officers prepare for them.
The purpose of this activity is to promote the relationship between the police and citizens. To show that police officers are not always serious, they can also be social and communicable.
A police in a white shirt says, “The purpose of this is to let us come together with the community, to let citizens know about our job.”
In the park, police officers are talkative and friendly. They play with children and discuss the NY police duty with parents. Many police officers believe people’s lives are their priority, and it is their responsibility to protect them.
They think their main duty is to create a “peaceful New York City” where less accidents may happen. And this is why police patrol every street of NYC everyday from morning to night.
Flyers they hand out in the park are about NYC Biking Laws and the safety procedure of driving. They are translated into several languages, such as Chinese and Spanish. Since most citizens live in Chinatown speak Mandarin and Cantonese, there are several bilingual police officers who translate for them.
On the driving flyers, it says: “in a city with 8 millions, accidents are everywhere. But car accidents can be prevented”. To reduce the risk of car accidents, citizens should be careful of a car that is about to do a U-turn. Drivers should slow down when they see people across the street.
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio wrote on Twitter that the event is: “A promising symbol of how we can come together for the common good.”
However, some citizens think this event is just a temporary “harmony.”
On the Town hall website, “NYC ‘National Night out’ Seeks to Strengthen Police, Citizen Relationship” article by Cortney O’Brien points out many skeptical concerns about whether the police can truly protect communities.
Perhaps police can only be nice for certain period and then bring the fear back again after this party.
Such as in the past years, O’Brien mentions “the controversial and deadly altercations in Ferguson, Missouri, New York City, and Baltimore.” These cases are familiar to all in the United States.
Whether the National Night Out Against Crime is a “one day harmony” or a relationship bridge between police and citizen, we will see the result in the future.