National Night Out returns to Dover next month.
National Night Out is an event aimed at building police-community relations.
The Dover Police Department is extremely excited to bring it back to Dover— according to public information officer Sgt. Mark Hoffman, “Obviously the 2020 event was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. So we’re going to come back in 2021 with this event. It’s typically one of our largest events throughout the year, where all of the public throughout the greater Dover region can come, meet-and-greet with the officers, check out some of the vehicles, the equipment, meet other local first responders, including medics, fire personnel and military (personnel).”
Sgt. Hoffman says in addition to appearances and demonstrations by these agencies, the National Night Out will feature fun activities for all ages, along with food and beverages.
Sgt. Hoffman also notes, “And at this event, what it does is - it allows us to build positive bridges throughout the community and it has always been the goal of this event since its inception. This is a way for the community to come out and meet their officers and get to know them on a personal level in a relaxed environment.”
He says events like this are important because oftentimes people's interaction with police are on their worst of days - whether it be a home break-in, an auto accident or that they’ve committed a crime and are being arrested.
The venue for this year’s event has been changed; this year it will be held at Dover High School on Dover High Drive on Tuesday, August 3, 2021 from 6 to 8 p.m.