Roanoke, Virginia – Community organizations across Star City convened to observe this year’s National Night Out, with an intention of fostering stronger ties with local law enforcement agencies.
National Night Out, an annual event aimed at reinforcing community cohesion, advocates for the development of partnerships between the police and the communities they serve. The initiative seeks to cultivate a sense of solidarity and safety within neighborhoods, making them more harmonious places to reside.
This year’s event is particularly poignant, following a shooting incident on Tuesday morning and a series of violent episodes witnessed over the past week. The Interim Roanoke Police Chief, Jerry Stokes, found it imperative to connect with local residents during National Night Out.
Stokes addressed the community’s concerns by saying, “We understand you’re scared. We are working on our strategy to ensure that we put things in place to help you from being scared or being a victim.”
In light of the rising crime rates, Stokes emphasizes the necessity of continuing to strengthen trust within the community. “We tell people ‘see something, say something’ … well they’re more likely to say something when they know us, are engaged with us, and have that trusting relationship. That’s what this is about,” Stokes shared.
One of the National Night Out events took place at McCadden Park, hosted by the Melrose-Rugby Neighborhood Forum. The group’s president, Stephen Niamke, expressed his hopes that the event would also facilitate stronger bonds between the residents themselves.
Niamke articulated his aspirations, stating, “We definitely want to build a relationship with the police but with neighbors as well. If we’re going to curb the violence, it really means talking to each other and trying to be preemptive. If we know that there’s a feud, if we know that there are some issues … let’s communicate that and deal with that ahead of time if we can.”
