National Night Out Heads to Downtown With a Focus on Building Community Trust
The Quincy Police Department’s annual event brings residents, first responders and community organizations together Monday, Aug. 3, in downtown Quincy.
Most people meet a police officer, firefighter or emergency medical provider when something has already gone wrong. Quincy Police Sgt. Joe Westby hopes National Night Out gives residents of the 98848 a chance to meet those same people under much better circumstances.
“We’re more than just the people who show up when something bad happens,” Westby said.
The Quincy Police Department will hold National Night Out from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Monday, Aug. 3, in downtown Quincy. Central Avenue will be closed between B and F streets for the event, which will include free food, music, family activities, public safety vehicles, demonstrations and booths from local agencies and community organizations.
This year’s move from Lauzier Park to downtown reflects that goal. Westby said bringing the event into the heart of Quincy makes it easier for more residents to attend, particularly those living in nearby apartment complexes who may not otherwise travel across town for the event.
TL;DR
National Night Out will be held from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Monday, Aug. 3, on Central Avenue in downtown Quincy.
The event is moving from Lauzier Park because of anticipated construction and to make it more accessible to residents living near the center of town.
Police, fire, EMS, public agencies, health organizations and local support groups are expected to participate.
Food, ice cream and family activities will be provided at no charge.
Sgt. Joe Westby said the goal is to build trust, improve communication and help residents recognize the people who may respond when they call for help.
Building Relationships Before an Emergency
Quincy has participated in National Night Out since about 2011. Westby said former Sgt. Fuller helped build a strong foundation for the event before the responsibility eventually passed to him.
National Night Out is held in communities across the country as a way to strengthen relationships between law enforcement agencies and the people they serve. In Quincy, Westby said the event also allows residents to learn about services and support systems available throughout the area.
“Our main core is to protect the community, and to protect the community, the community has got to know us,” Westby said. “This is kind of our highlight event to really engage with the public and let them know who we are and what we are about.”
Westby said police officers are often associated with traffic stops, arrests and difficult calls. National Night Out gives residents an opportunity to see another side of the department and to speak with officers in a relaxed setting.
That familiarity can matter later. Westby said a person facing an emergency may feel more comfortable when the officer arriving at the door is someone they have already met.
“They remember that officer from National Night Out, and they were kind and respectful,” he said. “It brings a lot of ease when we have to respond to calls, especially when people are in their worst time.”
He said those earlier positive interactions can also help officers calm a tense situation and communicate more effectively with the people involved.
Community Engagement Doesn’t End When the Event Is Over
Westby said National Night Out is only the most visible example of a philosophy the Quincy Police Department encourages throughout the year.
He said officers are expected to be part of the community they serve, whether that means stopping into local businesses while on patrol, talking with residents during everyday errands or simply being visible outside of emergency calls.
“If I need something from home, I’ll swing into QHL or Ace or Akins,” Westby said. “I’m still patrolling. If I have the uniform on, it’s, ‘What do you need? How can I help?’”
That approach is familiar to many Quincy residents. Seeing a Quincy police officer picking up supplies at Akins, stopping into Quincy Hardware & Lumber or grabbing lunch while remaining available for calls is a common sight around town. Rather than staying inside patrol cars between calls, Westby said officers are encouraged to become part of the everyday rhythm of the community they serve.
Westby said those everyday conversations build familiarity long before someone dials 911. After more than 16 years with the department, he believes those relationships have made him a better officer. “It really is easier to police the community when you know everybody,” he said.
For Westby, National Night Out is simply an extension of that philosophy. Instead of waiting for chance encounters throughout the year, the event creates one evening where hundreds of residents can meet the officers, firefighters, emergency responders and community organizations that serve the 98848.
Why the Event Is Moving Downtown
National Night Out has traditionally been held at Lauzier Park. Westby said anticipated construction at the park led organizers to consider a different location this year.
Once the department began looking at alternatives, downtown Quincy offered several advantages. The location places the event near apartments and neighborhoods where residents may be less likely to travel to Lauzier Park for an evening event.
“We are dead center in the city now, and everyone can come see us,” Westby said.
Central Avenue will be closed from B Street to F Street, similar to closures used for other downtown community events. Westby said there should be parking available on nearby side streets. The downtown location also creates an opportunity for nearby businesses to participate simply by remaining open and welcoming people into their shops.
Westby said he does not want business owners to feel that they must close because of the street closure. Instead, he hopes they will see the event as a chance to introduce themselves to residents who may not normally stop downtown.
“Those businesses are part of the community,” he said. “They help build us, and if they want to engage with the program and stay open, we encourage it.”
More Than a Police Event
Although the Quincy Police Department coordinates National Night Out, Westby said building partnerships across the community has always been part of the event’s mission.
Westby said the department is intentionally inviting community support organizations alongside first responders because National Night Out is about connecting residents with the resources available throughout the community, not simply introducing them to local law enforcement.
Westby said Grant County Fire District 3, Columbia EMS, the Grant County Sheriff’s Office, Washington State Patrol, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Grant PUD and Grant Transit Authority are among the agencies expected to attend.
Local health providers, the Grant County Health District, emergency communications representatives, domestic violence support organizations, colleges, military recruiters, youth groups and recreation programs are also expected to participate.
Westby said the purpose is to bring together the agencies and organizations that help residents during emergencies and in everyday life.
“They are not just there for enforcement,” he said. “They are assets for the community.”
The event is not intended to operate as a commercial market. Westby said he generally avoids inviting outside vendors whose main purpose is selling products because he wants the focus to remain on public service, community resources and relationship building.
Downtown businesses are different, he said, because they are already part of the neighborhood hosting the event. Residents will also be able to receive information about health services, recreation, youth sports, education, transportation and other programs available in the 98848. Food will be provided free of charge. Quincy Partnership for Youth is also sponsoring ice cream from La Michoacana.
Helping Children See Officers as People They Can Trust
Westby said one of the most important parts of National Night Out is giving children a positive experience with police officers and first responders.
He said officers sometimes hear parents tell children that police will take them away if they do not behave. Westby believes that message can make children afraid of the very people they may need to approach for help.
“My job is to be there if they need me,” he said.
Westby believes those positive experiences can last for years. A child who climbs into a patrol car or talks with an officer during National Night Out may someday remember that interaction if they ever need help.
Westby said he wants children to understand that they can approach a Quincy police officer when they are lost, frightened, hurt or in danger. “I do not know one officer in Quincy or the agencies around us that a child could not go to and tell them they need help,” he said.
The event will include activities from local recreation, health and youth organizations. Some youth sports programs are also expected to provide information and registration opportunities.
What This Means to You
For residents, National Night Out is an opportunity to learn who serves the community and what resources are available before a crisis occurs.
A family may attend for the free food or children’s activities and leave knowing where to find help with health care, domestic violence, youth programs, transportation or emergency services. A child may climb into a fire truck and later remember that firefighters are people they can trust. A resident may speak with an officer and recognize that same face months later during a difficult call.
Those are small connections, but Westby said they make police work more effective. He has served in Quincy for more than 16 years and said the relationships he has developed throughout the community have made it easier to communicate with residents and respond to problems.
The event is also a reminder that the officers, firefighters and emergency medical providers serving the 98848 are not separate from the community. They shop in local stores, attend local events, raise families here and regularly interact with residents outside of emergency situations.
The Message Behind the Event
Westby acknowledged that National Night Out requires time, coordination and some overtime expense. He said the department maintains normal patrol coverage during the event, with on-duty officers able to stop by when calls allow and off-duty personnel handling many event responsibilities.
He believes the investment is justified because community relationships are part of effective police work, not something separate from it. “Our job is service,” Westby said. “The time and money we put into this is worth the relationship we build with the community to make sure they know we are there for them.”
He said his favorite part of the evening is watching residents discover a service they did not know existed, seeing children become comfortable around officers and observing people from different parts of the community connect with one another.
The vehicles, food and activities may bring people downtown Monday evening, but Westby hopes they leave with something more useful: a better understanding of who will answer when they need help and confidence that those people are already part of the 98848.
Asked what he hopes residents remember after National Night Out is over, Westby didn’t talk about the food, the emergency vehicles or even the downtown location.
His answer was simple.
“We’re here for you.”
Ultimately, that message may be the reason National Night Out continues to grow. The event lasts one evening, but the relationships it is intended to build continue long after Central Avenue reopens. For the Quincy Police Department, that’s the investment they hope will make the 98848 a safer and more connected community.