TURNERS FALLS — As part of the Montague Police Department’s goal of boosting community outreach, the department held its first National Night Out event on Tuesday.
Hosted in collaboration with the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, the event brought together fellow first responders from the Turners Falls Fire Department and the Montague Center Fire Department, along with support from the Greenfield Police Department, to offer children’s activities, K-9 demonstrations and a dunk tank.
Montague Police Chief Jason Haskins explained that Sgt. Peter Lapachinski pitched the idea of holding the event. Lapachinski described National Night Out as “a lot of work” to organize, but the Sheriff’s Office was able to offer support.
“Without them, we wouldn’t have been able to do it,” he said of the Sheriff’s Office.
Although this was the first National Night Out hosted by the Montague Police Department, other municipalities in Massachusetts host their own events as part of a campaign that takes place every year across the United States.
According to the National Night Out website, the events are designed to be community-building opportunities that showcase “police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie.” In Massachusetts, 62 police departments and organizations participated this year.
Lapachinski said National Night Out is part of the department’s effort to do more public outreach after Haskins came on as police chief last winter. Haskins explained the public outreach is part of a larger goal to have more community policing initiatives to “get a bigger audience” and showcase the department’s capabilities.
“We want our community to feel that they can trust us and know us, and we are members of this community just as much as they are, and we don’t want to be painted with a national brush,” Haskins said. “We want them to have faith in their police department, and you can’t do that if you’re sitting behind a desk or a cruiser all day.”
Also in attendance was Luke Hartnett, chief of the Turners Falls and Montague Center fire departments, joined by other members of both departments. That afternoon, Hartnett said members were helping to share information on fire safety, giving children a chance to see the firefighting equipment and taking the time to get to know new faces in the community.
“I think it’s great for them to see neighbors, to see us, and just to communicate with them to get that familiarity with their public safety officials and public safety servants,” Hartnett said about being part of National Night Out.
Interim Franklin County Sheriff Lori Streeter was present, alongside other members of the Sheriff’s Office, and staff from the TRIAD Program and dog shelter.
Streeter said Ashley Lipka, her executive assistant, helped put together the information tables and raffles in coordination with Haskins. Streeter said National Night Out is another way her office is “jumping into” a community event that aims to raise awareness about the work of public safety officials while also providing a child-friendly experience.
One such kid at Tuesday’s event was 7-year-old Hunter Merrigan, who was with his family. His mother, Maggie Merrigan, said she thinks National Night Out provides a “wonderful opportunity” for children to meet local first responders.
Already, Hunter, who loves to go bass fishing with his brother, is setting his sights on a career in law enforcement.
“I’m gonna go to the police,” Hunter exclaimed, “then to the [Environmental Police].”
