Cops And Cotton Candy At National Night Out

Over 100 kids, parents, and police officers danced together, munched on cotton candy and hotdogs, and learned about how to make their community safer at the park behind Lincoln-Bassett Community School.

The event on Tuesday night was part of an annual National Night Out campaign, which seeks to build relationships between police and the community.

“National Night Out promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods safer, more caring places to live,” according to its website. Thousands of communities across the country simultaneously organized festivals, parades, and cookouts with safety demonstrations, seminars, youth events, and visits from emergency personnel.

“This is a tremendous opportunity to help the community and the police department come together,” said Yale Assistant Chief of Police Steven Woznyk.

Tuesday’s event was organized by the Yale and New Haven Police Departments. It featured a DJ booth, inflatable bounce house, and representatives from health, education, and non-profit organizations.

Yale neuroscience Ph.D. student Rick Crouse volunteers with Science Haven, which brings science demonstrations and activities to neighborhood events, including Tuesday’s Night Out. ​“We want to make sure students in the area benefit from the wealth of resources in New Haven,” he said.

Yale Immunobiology Postdoctoral Associate Naomi Phillip came to the event to present her research findings on how immune system responses are controlled by the time of day. ​“It’s important young children get exposure to what it means to be a scientist,” she said. We show them that we are real people and they can be a scientist too.”

Yale New Haven Health (YNHH) Injury Prevention Community Outreach & Research Community Educator Monica Quisgard and Manager Pina Violano are both legal gun owners. In December 2017, YNHH, the New Haven Police Department, gun control advocacy group the Newtown Foundation, and anti-violence metalworking organization RAWtools, Inc. this year organized a gun buyback. They collected a total of 141 guns that were destroyed and turned into garden tools.

On Tuesday, Quisgard and Violano spoke with residents, handed out pamphlets, and gave out free gun locks. ​“We’re handing them out with no questions asked,” Quisgard said. In 2018, 73 children died in accidental incidents involving guns in America, and 80% of unintentional firearm deaths of children under 15 occur in a home. ​“Although it is important in New Haven, it’s in urban communities and in suburban communities. It’s a problem everywhere,” said Violano.

Alexis Maebry-Oshomah, 14, has been working at Grace Chapel Church of the Mankind Ministry Inc. through the summer. ​“Our goal is to help people find jobs and a sustainable income” said Executive Director Deborah Conyers. Conyers said the group also works to provide housing for homeless people; she estimated they serve 12 people a day.

Maebry-Oshomah and Conyers set up a booth at Tuesday’s event. ​“Today is an opportunity for us to meet law enforcement and to let people know we’re here for them” Conyers said.

EMTs Adam Mac and Mike Violano opened up their ambulance and pulled out a stretcher in front of the DJ booth. But instead of bandaging a wound or giving CPR, they handed out stickers to kids and answered questions. ​“We want to help inspire the next generation,” said Mac. 

Yale Police bomb-sniffing dog Whitney wagged her tail as she greeted visitors at the event. After about an hour, Whitney, who turns 8 in September, got tired and stretched out on the grass.

“These events are what the community needs to understand each other.” said Yale Officer Charles Hebron. Fellow Yale Officer and Bomb Technician Joseph Tempesta said they ​“need to let people know that we’re normal, and if there’s ever an issue they can approach us.”

Aaliyah Imani, her brother Dexter Menyfield, said their younger cousins Maleah and Mayanna Menyfield, who live across the street from Lincoln-Bassett, ​“forced us to come out.” They went around to some informational booths and to the inflatable bounce house. ​“It’s great to see people come together at these events,” Imani said. Imani, 22, said she wants to be a judge; she was looking to ask an officer about the police academy.

Maleah and Mayanna Menyfield wandered over to pet a police dog. Maleah came back over to chase Dexter around and give him a big hug. Dexter broke into a smile and tried to pull away from his cousin’s hug. ​“This is why we need policing!” Imani said jokingly.

Laqurea Bickham saw the event posted on Facebook and brought her 7‑year-old daughter Makayla. At the face-painting booth, Makayla got a blue crown on her cheek and her friend, Taleya Ridenhour, 4, got multi-colored stars across her face.