By Okon Ekpenyong

The ‘National Night Out’ returned nationwide on Tuesday, August 3, 2021 with fun and and pegeantry after last year’s cancellation due to the covid-19 pandemic.

The purpose of the event, which is held the first Tuesday in August, is for Law enforcement to build relationships with the community and allow children to see officers and the first responders positively, and especially after last summer’s civil arrest over the tragic death of George Floyd.

Nicole Banks is the President of Starfish Assignment, and the group works with law enforcement officers to help throughout Central Ohio communities. They held several block parties at different community centers throughout Columbus in July, like the national night out. Such effort would continue to improve officers’ relationships with the community they serve.

“These events are opportunities for officers and the community to come together to have fun and get to know each other better. Columbus Police Deputy Chief Tim Becker and I went to five events across the city, and at all of them, we saw joy and heard laughter. We also got to see people thanking officers for their service. It was a wonderful night of togetherness”, said Nicloe Banks.

“We enjoyed learning about what first responders travel in, their equipment, and how important they are in our communities,” a neighborhood teen said.