Residents Join Fair Haven Police for National Night Out

The “National Night Out” program has the goal of sending a message of community and how a partnership of people and police can prevent crimes from happening for over 28 years.

On Tuesday night, the residents got that message as they gathered behind the  and met the people who make their small town a safe place to live.

Though some towns and cities with high crime rates took National Night Out’s message as a bittersweet tool to prevent bad things from continuing to happen, the sense in Fair Haven was to appreciate and get to know the people who have made the town such a safe place to live.

Patrolman Stephen Schneider explained he did not grow up in the area, but loves the sense of community present at the event and while working in town. “I grew up in Brookyln and other towns in Monmouth and Ocean counties,” said Schneider. "When you come to Fair Haven its just such a small tight knit community with so many kids in town."

National Night Out was started in 1984 by the National Association of Town Watch to generate support for and participation in local anti-crime programs, to strengthen police-community relationships and to send a message to criminals that citizens are fighting back.

Taking the role of director in Fair Haven’s ninth year participating in the program, Schneider wanted to make clear the town’s special role when it came to crime.

“The area is 1.65 square miles boarded by Red Bank, Little Silver and Rumson and is a unique set up. Probably for our area size we have about 6,500 people,” Schneider continued. “You can walk out on the street at 3:00 o’ clock in the morning and not have any worries. You can have someone like Mrs. Parker who is in her 80’s or 90’s struggling to make it up with her groceries and we will be there to help her out. It’s very community oriented.”

The community had an opportunity to learn about different officials that provide services to Fair Haven. Members from other law enforcement agencies like the Monmouth County Sheriff came out with his dog to show dozens in attendance a canine routine on how a narcotic dog works. The fire department came to show how their hoses and trucks operate. The first aid squad even brought a machine that did CPR, instead of human to human.

Energetic kids ran aimlessly around in wonderment looking which play spot to go to next. Bouncy houses were available for the kids to jump around in. A dunk tank was the highlight of the night with parents and kids lined up to dunk the mayor of Fair Haven.

Devin Wingington, who has lived in Fair Haven for eight years, was pleased for his first time attending. “It’s a summer night something for the kids to do. We have never been to it before, but it sounded like fun,” he said.

Winginton’s son Gab was one of the many kids who won prizes from multiple businesses contributing toys to the event. The biggest prizes of the night were boys and girls bicycles. Toys R Us also donated various toys ranging from $20-$60.

Target, which has now become the national sponsor for National Night Out had employees like Mike Triolo who enjoyed every minute of the event. “I can just see the community involvement and police partnership and its just been a fantastic turnout,” he said.

Patrolman Schneider was looking forward to the future having people sign up for the Neighborhood Watch, and even looking forward to having a Holiday Prevention Crime group around the times when family is most important.

The day was special for Schneider and all law enforcement around the country who want kids in the community to know they have people in power who would be there for them whenever they needed.

 “It is a nice night where the kids can come up to us without us telling them to put their helmets on or cross with a crossing guard. It's very friendly, they will come up and we’ll talk. It takes away the fear that ‘Oh, this is a police officer lets not go up to him,’" he said. "It was a great night.”