Organizers for Greene County’s National Night Out are always excited for the annual event, but this year brings an added level of excitement as last year’s event was cancelled twice due to COVID-19.

“It was very disheartening to have to cancel last year’s event not once, but twice, due to the pandemic,” said Linton Police Department Chief Paul Clark. “We are very happy to get back out there with the community again.”

This year’s event will take place on Tuesday, Aug. 3, at Humphreys Park in Linton. The event, which draws crowds around 4,000 each year, runs from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. As always, there is no charge to attend the event. Free food will also be available for those participating in the event.

Clark said the event is funded through donations from businesses, organizations, and individuals.

“We use all of the donations to buy gifts and toys for those who participate,” Clark said.

When children arrive and check in at the event, they receive a card with numbers. The numbers reflect the vendor booths. When the children visit a booth, someone from that business or organization will stamp the card. When the card has been stamped by all vendors, the children can turn the card in to the registration tent and be entered to win prizes.

National Night Out provides our local police departments with the opportunity to interact with the community in a positive way – something that isn’t always the case in the day-to-day business of law enforcement.

While the event is being held in Linton, Clark stressed it’s not a LPD event – it’s a Greene County event in which all departments in the county are actively involved.

“We don’t have very many opportunities to interact with the community in a positive environment. Usually when we are interacting with the community it’s in a negative manner,” Clark said, noting some examples as issuing traffic tickets, responding to accidents, or conducting arrests.

“We want people to know us on that positive level so they can have confidence in us. Having the community’s trust and faith is the reason we are able to be successful as a police agency. Not having that trust and faith is why other agencies aren’t able to succeed.”

Local businesses and organizations wishing to participate in this year’s event or anyone wanting to volunteer at the event can contact the Linton Police Department via email at NNO@lintonpolice.com. If your business or organization would like to make a donation to this year’s National Night Out, contact the LPD via e-mail for sponsorship forms.