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Wilson Police Sgt. S.L. Gardner revealed a musical talent when he sang the national anthem for Tuesday’s National Night Out at Warren Street Park.
Wilson County Sheriff’s Office Deputies Ruby Freeman and Jeremy White showed that they each had a sweet tooth when it came to cooling down a hot summer night with a rainbow slushie.
Wilson Police Officers A. Arnold and P. Sherrill demonstrated a kindly, sportsmanlike attitude when they lost the balloon toss competition.
And K-9 Officer N. Heath let slip that she could cut a rug with the best of them in the line dance.
Wilson Police Sgt. Eric McInerny, center, wife Jenny and son Sullivan greet Captain B. Hitchcock at the National Night Out event Tuesday. Drew C. Wilson | Times
Wilson Police Senior K-9 Officer Justin Fulghum withstands a chomp to his bite sleeve during a K-9 demonstration at National Night Out on Tuesday. Drew C. Wilson | Times
Nikki Mears, Alisa Artis and Jamie Blevins of the Wilson County Department of Social Services fan themselves at National Night Out. Drew C. Wilson | Times
Wilson Fire/Rescue Services life safety educator Shauna Allen-Smith takes pictures of a child posing in a firefighter cardboard cutout during National Night Out. Drew C. Wilson | Times
Deputies Ruby Freeman, right, and Jeremy White of the Wilson County Sheriff’s Office walk through Warren Street Park with rainbow slushies during National Night Out. Drew C. Wilson | Times
Senior Police Officer Charmaine Harris, recruiting officer and Police Athletics/Activities League program director, said events like the “Night Out” give law enforcement and the community a chance to get to know one another on a non-official basis.
“It is very important because it bridges that gap between the community and law enforcement to show that we are human and that they can depend on us,” Harris said. “Seeing our faces out here outside of the uniform and the gadgets so they see that we are just like them, it makes a huge difference.”
Various public safety and nonprofit organizations set up tables to highlight the services offered throughout Wilson and Wilson County.
“We enjoy events like this because at our agency, we see ourselves as a family,” said Capt. Russell Winstead, a 16-year-veteran of the Wilson Police Department. “These are our brothers and sisters, and to be honest, we are a family with our community too. That partnership that we have makes working such a pleasure. We enjoy getting to serve this community because it is such a wonderful community that serves us back.”
This was the second year Winstead helped organize the event.
“I took this job because I wanted to be Sheriff Andy Taylor more than anybody in the world,” Winstead said. “Even though our city is bigger than a Mayberry, we get to have a lot of those small-town feel out here. I know the community group that is out here, which is the Daniel Hills Community Group, and we have that direct relationship. I know them by first name and they know me by first name. Tonight, we are just celebrating that relationship.”
Theresa Mathis, human relations specialist with the city of Wilson and a National Night Out event planner, said the Wilson Police Department is a community partnering organization.
“They believe in community policing, which means they are building relationships with the community before we are in crisis so that when that crisis pops up, we know exactly who to call and we trust the officers to help us,” Mathis said. “The reason we see problems in other communities is they are not certified, regulated and accredited. The Wilson Police Department is all three of those, and that is why they work so hard to make sure the community welcomes them and they welcome the community in.”
National Night Out is a national policing and neighborhood watch movement that got its start in 1984 to familiarize communities with the officers who are there to serve them.
“We all feel more comfortable with the people we know,” Mathis said. “We would rather bare our soul with somebody we have a relationship with than a perfect stranger, so the more we get to know the officers and the services they provide, the better the whole community will be.”
Dante Pittman, human relations director at the city of Wilson, said it’s the character of the individuals within the police department that makes the department great.
“It underlines that these are humans who have decided to take the risk to provide us safety,” Pittman said. “These are people whose job is to keep us safe.”
