National Night Out in Kearney had a great turnout of community support.
On Tuesday, families, kids, community members, and first responders gathered at Harmon Park to celebrate the 40th Annual National Night Out.
The event has been put on by Kearney for the past five years, and each year it has grown thanks to the support from Kearney.
Event organizer and Kearney Police Department Lieutenant Kowalek, shared “Our philosophy is community police and be part of the community. Listen to the community and just to get to know them. And this event just like every year has been successful. And just the support from our community, is, it just means the world to us.”
The event featured K-9 and drone demonstrations, water spraying from a fire truck done by the Kearney Volunteer Fire Department, motorcycle tricks, a tour of the medical helicopter, bounce houses and more.
“We want to thank the citizens too, for having our back. For just supporting us and just, you know, we all have the same goal, same mission. Keep Kearney safe.” said Kowalek
Agencies that joined KPD for NNO, include the Buffalo County Sheriff’s Office, Nebraska State Patrol, UNK PD, the Kearney Volunteer Fire Department, and Good Samaritan Hospital AirCare and Ambulance service.
Additionally, KPD’s Citizen’s Academy Alumni Association donated food, with Hy-Vee donating water and an anonymous donor providing Rocket Pros. The event was also made possible with help from volunteers like the First Responders Foundation, Youth Citizen’s Police Academy, the Horizon Middle School Choir, the KHS band, and the support from the Friends of Law Enforcement Group and Kearney Area Chamber of Commerce.
National Night Out is a nationwide annual community event held on the first Tuesday of August. The event encourages police-community partnerships and build camaraderie for safer neighborhoods.