LIVERPOOL N.Y. (NCC News) – The Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office is hosting “National Night Out'” events at Long Branch Park in Liverpool Tuesday night.
The event kicks off at 6:00 p.m. and is aimed at improving relations between law enforcement agencies and their local communities. National Night Out events take place in thousands of communities across all 50 states each year.
Entry for the Onondaga County Sheriff’s event is free to the public and will include food trucks, bounce houses and music. Additionally, children can tour a police helicopter and bomb squad truck with officers.
The Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer, Thomas Newton, helped to organize the event. He stressed the importance of interacting with law enforcement to reduce stigmas around police and first responders.
“We often see people, and I speak for the first responders and local police agencies, at their worst… we want them to know there is a connection between us at a human level,” Newton said.
According to Newton, this year will build on previous successes.
“In past years the sheriff’s office has held this event in Target parking lots, last year we were looking to make a splash, and that splash being moving to Long Branch Park,” Newton said.
Last years event saw around 600 community members attend, according to Newton. This year the turnout may be similar, but the reception will be very different.
Newton anticipates the community will rally around fallen first responders.
“I assume this year there will be a lot more condolences for losing Lieutenant Hoosock and Jensen. Just from those two murders, the thank yous and appreciation, that’s what tonight will be,” Newton said.
Lieutenant Michael Hoosock of the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office and Officer Michael Jensen of the Syracuse Police Department were both killed in the line of duty.
They will be remembered by many at Tuesday’s event.
