Windsor police build connections at NNO 2024
Published 10:00 am Monday, August 12, 2024
On hand for National Night Out 2024 in Windsor are, from left, Windsor Volunteer Fire Department members Gage Hedgepeth, Pierce Homan and John Collick.
Vendors interact with attendees of the National Night Out event on Tuesday, Aug. 6, in the gymnasium at Windsor Town Center.
Three-year-old Rayn Turner smiles Tuesday, Aug. 6, at the National Night Out event in Windsor.
Enjoying National Night Out in Windsor on Tuesday, Aug. 6, are, from left, front row, Brandy Dunlow, 3-year-old Corbin Hartshorn; back row, Patrol Officer Will Hartshorn and 9-year-old Brianne Dunlow.
Theodore Haynes III, aka Southampton High School mascot Flash 2 Time, participates in the National Night Out event at Windsor Town Center.
Danielle Kelly, left, and Jennifer Rios pause for a photo Tuesday, Aug. 6, during the National Night Out event in Windsor.
Taking part in the National Night Out event in Windsor are, from left, front row, Kendall Hedgepeth, Emilee Whitehead; back row, Terry Whitehead and Special Agent Eric Whitehead, who is with the law enforcement division of the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles.
James Atkinson and Nancy Atkinson smile for a photo at Windsor Town Center during the National Night Out event on Tuesday, Aug. 6.
Joining for a picture at the National Night Out event in Windsor on Tuesday, Aug. 6, are, from left, Volpe Boykin, Dr. Theo Cramer, Hudson Maresh, Tenley Maresh and Jason Maresh.
Windsor Police Chief Rodney “Dan” Riddle, fourth from left, gathers with a group of area law enforcement officers at the National Night Out event in Windsor on Tuesday, Aug. 6.
Four-year-old Vera Rios enjoys one of the bounce houses available at the National Night Out event held at Windsor Town Center on Tuesday, Aug. 6.
Eight-year-old Grace Smith slides down an inflatable during National Night Out on Tuesday, Aug. 6, in Windsor.
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The Windsor Police Department hosted its annual National Night Out event on Tuesday, Aug. 6, drawing an estimated 130 to 140 people to Windsor Town Center for free food, fun and partnership-building.
The official National Night Out website describes NNO as “an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie.”
The NNO event in Windsor on Tuesday featured free hot dogs, drinks, chips, two bounce houses, crime prevention information, fire prevention information, children’s crafts, free school supplies and more.
“I think it went very well,” WPD Chief Rodney “Dan” Riddle said. “Any time we get to spend building relationships with our citizens is a success. I would always like to see more people attend and get involved.”
He noted that he saw a lot of attendees from Windsor and also some that he did not know.
“The new faces I got a chance to speak with were mostly Isle of Wight residents who live close to Windsor,” he said. “But WPD made some new friends and built some connections.”
Riddle observed that the bounce houses were a particularly popular feature of the event.
“The kids absolutely love them,” he said.
This NNO event was organized by the WPD, but Riddle noted that the department’s law enforcement partners, including the Isle of Wight County Sheriff’s Office, had a presence at Windsor Town Center on Tuesday to support the event, the WPD and the community.
“WPD and IOWSO maintain a close working partnership, assisting each other to protect the community every day,” Riddle said. “WPD will be supporting IOWSO with the events they have planned for October.”
Windsor Volunteer Fire Department contributed on Tuesday with firetrucks and personnel on hand in the parking lot, available for interaction with the public.
