By Natalie M. ZeiglerCity Manager
National Night Out is coming to Burry Park this evening at 6:30 p.m., and it is going to be a fun one: live entertainment, activities and a free movie showing after dusk. It may be the best version of this community event we have had yet, with everything from the Darlington County Sheriff’s Office Mounted United Unit to the S.C. Department of Natural Resources gaming trailer, free food and drinks, inflatables and much more.
National Night Out exists to connect law enforcement and emergency services with the communities they serve. It gives us another way to connect to our communities and to build the partnerships which make Hartsville a safer, better place to live.
It’s also far from the only time that those involved in our city see our police officers and firefighters reaching out. The Police Department, for example, has hosted Teen Summits to focus on issues important to our youth: bullying, crime prevention and education. For two years, the department has also coordinated a donation drive in the hottest days of summer to provide electric fans to senior residents most vulnerable to heat. The department strives to connect with a wide variety of community organizations, from the Greater Hartsville Ministerial Alliance to the PULSE mentoring program of the TEACH Foundation.
In 2012, the Police Department responded to nearly 1,200 calls for service. They patrol our city around the clock, investigate crimes and arrest offenders. We know, however, that law enforcement cannot focus on crime response alone. Crime prevention and ongoing partnerships are needed to make Hartsville better.
The Hartsville Fire Department, which will be serving you hot dogs and drinks if you come to National Night Out tonight, also practices ongoing outreach with their fellow residents. They had a busy year in 2012, responding to more than 1,500 calls, and improving their ISO classification from a 5 to a 4 in the city, indicating a strong level of fire protection services and allowing for lower insurance premiums. Even so, many of the services they provide occur outside of emergency situations.
Fire Department personnel have undergone the training necessary to inspect children’s car seats and how these seats are installed, allowing them to provide car seat safety check events. Christmastime shoppers in Hartsville often see our Fire Department raising funds for the Boots and Buckets for Kids program. Last year, after raising $5,000, they helped provide Christmas gifts for 135 children in 60 families. The department also makes contributions to the MUSC Children’s Hospital Burned Children’s Fund.
I hope everyone can join us for a great time this evening, and meet many of the departments which support this city and county. We’re working for you the rest of the year as well, so never hesitate to reach out to us.
