The event attracted between 3,000 and 4,000 people.
CHICOPEE – Volunteers knew their Night Out Against Crime event was going well when they started running out of things.
First the police had to run back to the station to get more backpacks after they gave 600 for prizes and the night wasn’t nearly over. Then they ran out of rolls after more than 1,500 hot dogs had been grilled and given away.
Even Lt. John Pronovost, the Police department’s crime prevention training officer, started off with 500 toy badges to give to children. Long before the flashlight parade that ends the event started he was down to a small plastic bag.
“I think this is our biggest event so far. We had between 3,000 and 4,000 people,” said Jean Fitzgerald, chairwoman of the Night Out Against Crime committee and founder of the event.
National Night Out Against Crime, which started nearly 30 years ago, encourages communities across the country to get together in a show of force against gangs, drugs and crime. The event is held on Aug. 7 but Chicopee always hold theirs one day early.
This was the 19th year of the event. Spread out across Sarah Jane Sherman Park were bounce houses, games offered by different community groups, a bicycle and skateboard demonstration and free food.
Corey Morales, 17, wore a bright knit yellow cap and giant sunglasses as he worked at the Boys and Girls Club booth. He said he helped at different games and picked up trash.
“It’s my first one. It has been really fun,” he said.
One of his friends, Chary Rivera, 16, teased that she helped Morales dress. She too assisted with the Boys and Girls Club.
“This is my second and it has good games, cotton candy, hot dogs and I like the jump house,” she said.
The main purpose of the event is to allow the community and police to gather in a casual setting. This year Fitzgerald was encouraging people to thank police and honored state and local officers in a breakfast for their work at the April 13 shooting that left a state trooper injured.
The one disappointment was the Fire Department, which always attends, was battling a major fire and could not come. Residents missed them but understood, she said.
“It is a great event. We always want to meet the children, and tell them if you ever have a problem go to a police officer,” Pronovost said. “We are here to help and we try to make the situation better.”
This is an undated family photo of the late Amanda Plasse. He talked about how the event has expanded. The first few years the event would draw about 100 people and a few officers would attend. Now people line up to see the department’s rescue boat and the emergency response vehicle and wait to see demonstrations of the police dog.
In fitting with the theme of the event, Michelle Mathieson handed out flyers and sold T-shirts and bracelets in tribute to her daughter Amanda Plasse. Plasse was just 20 when she was murdered on Aug. 26 in her School Street apartment. Her killing remains unsolved.
Mathieson said she is hoping someone will come forward with information that will help solve her daughter’s death.
Fitzgerald thanked the many sponsors who donated prizes, food and their time, saying the event could not have happened without them.
This year the School Committee and City Council in a show of unity manned the hot dog station. Councilors Michael J. Pise and Adam D. Lamontagne bought the hot dogs and rolls and City Councilors Dino A. Brunetti, John L. Vieau and Frank N. Laflamme, with the help of City Treasurer Ernest N. Laflamme grilled the food.