Community participates in National Night Out

Public service entities from Breckenridge and Stephens County participated in National Night Out, an annual nationwide event, Tuesday, Oct. 4. The event was held at the Stephens County Law Enforcement Center.

Citizens of all ages came out to celebrate and were served BBQ by Breckenridge firefighters and Fire Chief Malcolm Bufkin. Children received temporary tattoos from wives of local police officers and Stephens County Sheriff Kevin Roach could be found handing out popsicles.

Children were able to get into emergency vehicles including patrol vehicles, fire trucks and ambulances where they learned about different emergency equipment and posed for pictures. Several booths handed out pamphlets outlining local resources for families and candy for kids.

First responders present were personnel from Breckenridge Police Department, Stephens County Sheriff’s Department, Breckenridge Fire Department, American Medical Response ambulance service, and Hubbard Creek, Caddo, and Wayland Volunteer Fire Departments.

Hubbard Creek volunteer firefighter Amy Judkins was one of the first responders present at the event, and spent time talking to children of the community and handing out candy during what she called an important night for the community.

“National Night Out continues to be an amazing event,” Judkins said. “Bringing our community together to reinforce trust and safety is paramount to our success as a whole. This may be the first chance the kiddos have to meet a police officer or firefighter. They are our future.”

For most states, National Night Out is the first Tuesday of August, but Texans hold their events in October due to high summer temperatures.

National Night Out was established in August 1984 by an already- existing network of law enforcement agencies, neighborhood watch groups, crime prevention associations and volunteers across the United States. The first annual National Night Out included 400 communities across 23 states and 2.5 million people.

This annual event was established as a way for law enforcement to build relationships and trust with the citizens within their communities.