Mike Hines and the Look, one of Delaware’s premiere dance bands rocked Bicentennial Park on Tuesday, August 5 as Milford Police Department presented the Annual Night Out. The event was part of National Night Out and is designed to enhance the relationship between the community and law enforcement.
“We are excited to be here tonight and celebrate with you in the park,” Hines said as the show kicked off under the gazebo. “Our band has been together 40 years and over all those years, these are our favorites, to be out in the community and bringing just a little bit of musical joy to all of you.”
Milford Police Department handed out free “Greenwood” chicken, Grotto Pizza and hot dogs to everyone who attended. There were vendors, a K-9 demonstration and other attractions throughout the park. Chris Coleman, Milford City Manager, who started his job on Monday, August 4, assisted Chief Cecilia Ashe in handing out chicken dinners while Mayor Todd Culotta and Vice-Mayor Jason James handed out free drinks.
“Tonight isn’t about good food, even though it was really, really good food,” Ashe said. “It is about promoting safety, promoting positive encouragement for our law enforcement officers and community engagement. Milford has one of the best police agencies in the state and I know everyone here agrees and supports this department.”
Ashe reminded everyone that the officers risked their lives every single day to ensure that when they were sleeping at night, they could do it in peace. Ashe pointed out that Carlisle Fire Company had just raised the American flag.
“That’s what this is about. It’s about keeping our freedoms. It’s about protecting our freedoms. Those men and women do it every single day for you,” Ashe said. “A department is not defined by the chief who leads it. It’s defined by the mission and our mission is about community engagement with respect and empathy for our community and the officers and the communities we serve.”
Ashe pointed out that at this event every year, she commended the officers, but on this particular night she wanted to pay homage to another group of people.
“I always highlight the officers and their efforts,” Ashe said. “This year, I really want to focus on the families of the officers who take time away with their kids, wives, husbands that are left at home alone in the middle of the night to hold down the fort. They risk and sacrifice as well so that these officers can do what they love to do every day.”
In addition to thanking the families, Ashe thanked Coleman for his assistance that night.
“I can’t be any more enthusiastic about Chris coming on board,” Ashe said. “Actions are louder than words and he stood right in line with us, handing out chicken so that the line kept moving. We welcome Chris. I think he thought this was his welcoming party, so we’ll let him think that. I also want to thank council members and the mayor for their help tonight.”
National Night Out began in the Lower Merion community, a suburb of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. A man named Matt worked as a volunteer in the township and often patrolled his neighborhood, assisting patrol dispatch and later introduced a newsletter promoting the town. IN 1981, Matt established the National Association of Town Watch to provide community-driven watch groups throughout the country. In 1984, he introduced National Night Out, an event that was designed to highlight the work of law enforcement agencies while engaging the community.
The first event involved 2.5 million neighbors across 400 communities and in 23 states. Today, the event is held the first Tuesday of August in 17,000 communities in all 50 states. Over the past 42 years, 38 million people have participated in events across the country.
