A ‘Night Out’ with police

On Tuesday, Aug. 3, the Suffolk County Police Department’s 7th Precinct and the Mastics-Moriches-Shirley Community Library will be joining communities across the United States for a National Night Out event. The event is from 5 to 8 p.m. and will take place at the William Floyd High School football field, behind Nathaniel Woodhull Elementary School.

“The purpose of the event is to show there’s a partnership between the police and the community. There’s usually demonstrations like the EMS and fire truck demonstrations, and then we have vendors and fun for the whole family,” said Tara D’Amato, assistant director of the Mastics-Moriches-Shirley Community Library and an event organizer.

Last year the event was not held due to COVID-19, but in a previous year more than 650 people attended. This year’s event will feature vendors, demonstrations and an opportunity to meet elected officials and other members of the community.

According to the National Night Out’s website, the first Night Out took place in 1984 and was attended by more than 2.5 million people across 23 states. The national event has since grown to include events all across the United States on the same first Tuesday in August (some communities in Texas host their Night Out in October).

The Mastics-Moriches-Shirley Night Out was organized by representatives from the library and 7th Precinct, including community liaison Officer Frank Raspanti, who recently held a Barber, Beauty & Books event in the community.

“Officer Raspanti really hits the pavement running to get donations and to get the community involved. A few years ago, he got Applebee’s to donate 600 hamburgers to an event we were doing. He really puts his heart into it and it shows,” said D’Amato.