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Community policing officers highlight National Night Out in Groton
Summary
Groton community policing officers described National Night Out as a chance to connect residents with first responders, noting more than 50 vendors and activities at tonight's event and emphasizing outreach over enforcement.
Officer Heather McClellan and Officer Shriga Fifi of the Groton Police Department summarized plans and goals for the town's National Night Out event, stressing community engagement and outreach. McClellan, a community policing officer and member of the event committee, said the event has "over 50 organizations and vendors that are here providing cool activities to the kids and the families." The officers said the gathering is intended as a relaxed opportunity for residents to learn about police, fire and EMS roles in the community rather than for enforcement.
Fifi, who identified herself as the second community policing officer and a fellow organizer, said National Night Out is an annual chance to welcome new residents, meet local vendors and include visitors from surrounding towns. She highlighted logistics the committee addressed, including parking, and urged residents to see officers as neighbors: "please remember at the end of the day, this uniform comes off and I'm sitting at the same dinner table you and I sit on." Both officers said the event features vehicles and activities—motorcycles, jeeps, buses and a "touch a truck"—aimed at families and kids.
The officers framed the event as part of ongoing community-police engagement efforts in Groton, intended to reduce misperceptions about policing by facilitating direct, informal interaction. They encouraged attendees to speak with officers, firefighters and EMS personnel present at the event and noted the committee's role in coordinating vendors and logistics for tonight's activities.
