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Laurel National Night Out draws families to meet police, firefighters and rescue teams
Summary
Families attended Laurel's National Night Out to meet first responders and see demonstrations of police canines, drones, vehicle extrication and an explosive-detection dog named Yoshi, officials said.
Laurel's National Night Out brought families to a city block of demonstrations and exhibits where residents could meet police officers, firefighters and other emergency responders. "We receive a lot of support from the community here on the police department, and I believe what you're seeing here is just an outpouring of that support," Police Chief Russ Hamill said as families watched canine and drone demonstrations.
Residents said the event aims to reduce fear and build familiarity between officers and the public. "I like bringing my son out here so he can meet them. He could know who they are, and they know who he is," one attendee, introduced in the report as Dominique Clements, said. The report also named Yoshi as the department's first explosive detection dog. Firefighters staged vehicle-rescue demonstrations using sledgehammers and the "jaws of life," and a petting zoo was highlighted as a family favorite by attendee Paige Martello.
Organizers said the event mixes public-safety demonstrations with music, food and activities to create an occasion for community connection. Chief Hamill described the gathering as a city tradition and said he looks forward to holding the event again next year. For Laurel TV, reporter Tim Reed closed the segment.
