From the Town of Alden to the City of Niagara Falls, communities across Western New York took part in a special evening Tuesday meant to reinforce relationships between neighbors and first responders.
It's called National Night Out.
The annual event, when not interrupted by a pandemic, provides a safe and productive environment for police and fire departments to bond; often with their smallest citizens.
In the Town of Tonawanda, firefighters showed kids how to use a hose to put out a fire and helped them suit up in fire gear. The exercise in exposure is meant to build connections and strengthen crime prevention.
“A lot of time we're being called to situations we're responding so this is a way to meet people, in a proactive way,” said Tonawanda Police Captain Joseph Milosich.