In Portsmouth: Getting to know police as ‘human beings’

National Night Out draws local families to Glen Park

By Jim McGaw
Posted 8/6/19

PORTSMOUTH — With some of his strongest police officers in front of him and a couple of civilian tykes to the rear, Police Chief Brian Peter’s team couldn’t lose the tug-of-war …

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In Portsmouth: Getting to know police as ‘human beings’

National Night Out draws local families to Glen Park

Posted

PORTSMOUTH — With some of his strongest police officers in front of him and a couple of civilian tykes to the rear, Police Chief Brian Peter’s team couldn’t lose the tug-of-war battle at Glen Park Tuesday night. 

“I had a few ringers that we called in,” Chief Peters quipped after the contest, which was held as part of National Night Out.

The event is held on the first Tuesday in August to promote police-community partnerships in neighborhoods across the country. Although the event’s origins date back to the early 1970s, the day has been officially celebrated nationally since 1984.

The thinking is, the more comfortable the community’s relationship with its local police force is, the safer the neighborhoods will be.

“It’s a great opportunity for the community to come together, for people to recognize us as police officers but also be able to know us as human beings,” the chief said.

This year’s event was co-sponsored by the Portsmouth Parks and Recreation Department, which put out an assortment of games and contests for the children to play — often times against the men and women in blue. 

Refreshments were offered free of charge. “The pizzas have been donated by all the local pizza places,” Chief Peters said.

In addition to the recreation department and its summer camp counselors, the Portsmouth Prevention Coalition also assisted with the event.

The evening concluded with an outdoor screening of the children’s movie, “Ralph Breaks the Internet.” St. Barnabas Church provided the use of the movie projector, while former police officer Scott Sullivan and others helped raise donations for the inflatable screen.

National Night Out, Portsmouth Recreation Department, Glen Park, Portsmouth Police Department

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Meet our staff
Jim McGaw

A lifelong Portsmouth resident, Jim graduated from Portsmouth High School in 1982 and earned a journalism degree from the University of Rhode Island in 1986. He's worked two different stints at East Bay Newspapers, for a total of 18 years with the company so far. When not running all over town bringing you the news from Portsmouth, Jim listens to lots and lots and lots of music, watches obscure silent films from the '20s and usually has three books going at once. He also loves to cook crazy New Orleans dishes for his wife of 25 years, Michelle, and their two sons, Jake and Max.