The Bethany Beach Police Department will be offering its second annual National Night Out on Thursday, July 17, from 4 to 8 p.m. The event is free to people of all ages and will be held on the Christian Church grounds, directly across from the Bethany Beach Police Department. It is the local edition of an annual nationwide event aimed at community safety.
The event will feature the Office of Highway Safety, the Delaware State Police K-9 Unit and the Bethany Beach Fire Department, along with the Bethany Beach Police Department.
The Office of Highway Safety will be on hand to give out bike safety information. Last year, they gave out bike helmets, and checked bikes, brakes and lights, according to PFC Patrick Foley, who will head up organizing this year’s event.
PFC Rhys Bradsaw of the Bethany Beach police Department will be available to physically check children’s car booster seats and child safety seats to see that they are correctly fastened to the car and correctly fitted to the child. In addition to that, the Delaware State Police will be on hand to demonstrate how the K-9 unit works, from their everyday routine to how to they track drugs.
“There will be two or three of those shows during the four-hour period,” explained Foley. “Also Station 70, the Bethany Beach Volunteer Fire Company, will be on hand for an information session where kids can speak to the firefighters, sit inside a fire truck, play with the buttons, etc. An ambulance will be on hand for the same purpose.”
Last year, children also enjoyed an up close and personal look inside patrol cars, something they can expect this year as well.
“The majority of officers had kids sit in the cars, and play with the sirens,” said Foley.
“It’s basically us integrating ourselves to the public in the summertime — to show the public we’re human.”
During the event, Bethany Blues will be selling their famous pulled-pork sandwiches, coleslaw, chips and drinks, and a good time should be had by all.
“Come on over!” said Foley.