Windsor-area community enjoys National Night Out
Published 2:00 pm Saturday, August 6, 2022
From left, Lt. G.P. Jernigan, Michelle Edwards, Connor Ford, Sue Meadows, Windsor Police Chief Rodney “Dan” Riddle and Ashlee Moffett smile for a photo at Windsor’s National Night Out event Tuesday evening, Aug. 2. (Photo by Titus Mohler)
Holding for a picture at Windsor’s National Night Out event are, from left, Aletheia Shearrin, LaBra Warren and Darryl Rawlings. The bounce house serves as a backdrop. (Photo by Titus Mohler)
Sharing a moment together at the National Night Out event in Windsor on Tuesday, Aug. 2, are, from left, Phyllis Ruffin, Christine Porter, Theodore Haynes, Corey Williams and Arthur Williams. (Photo by Titus Mohler)
Amanda Joseph and Jonathan Winters huddle for a photo during the Windsor NNO event on Tuesday, Aug. 2. (Photo by Titus Mohler)
Enjoying the National Night Out event at Windsor Town Center are Erin Beck, left, and Aaron Beck. (Photo by Titus Mohler)
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Community members and organizations came out to the Windsor Town Center on Tuesday evening, Aug. 2, for the opportunity to develop better relationships with the Windsor Police Department, other groups and neighbors as part of National Night Out 2022.
Windsor Police Chief Rodney “Dan” Riddle estimated that roughly 125 people attended the event.
“It went well,” he said. “We had a good turnout and great participation from our community organizations.”
Organizations had tables set up around the perimeter of the gymnasium, with materials and, in some cases, food to share with attendees. A bounce house served as a key feature of one corner of the gym. Tables were set up in the middle of the room where people could sit down and eat some of the free food provided at the event.
Councilman Jake Redd was among the town leaders present for the gathering, and he also helped man the Windsor Ruritan Club’s table.
“I think the National Night Out was a big success,” he stated. “For a small town to have a large show-out from both families and community organizations was great to see.”
Riddle noted that the NNO event is designed to foster relationships and provide education.
“The NNO event is aimed at building police and community relationships but also developing relationships between community members and other organizations, meeting new neighbors and fostering participation/involvement in the community,” he said. “This event also allows WPD to put out a significant amount of crime prevention information to the community on how they can protect themselves from becoming victims of crime.
“I think the event was successful and accomplished what we set out to do, which was improve the community by building relationships with law enforcement, educating citizens and promoting our civic organizations,” he added.
This is the 11th year that Windsor’s police department has held a National Night Out event, Riddle stated, noting that the department has always partnered with the Isle of Wight County Sheriff’s Office to make it happen.
“The goal is to provide an NNO event not only for the town of Windsor but residents of the south end of Isle of Wight County,” he stated. “Since both agencies work together every day to provide law enforcement services to the community, the partnership with IOWSO for the NNO is just a natural extension of the relationship.”
For those in attendance Tuesday, the air-conditioned town center served as a welcome respite from the notable heat outside.
“With the addition of the Windsor Town Center, we moved the event inside in 2018 due to inclement weather, and we have continued to hold the event there ever since,” Riddle said. “It makes it nice to be able to get out of the heat, and I think makes the event more enjoyable for all.”
