Community members and deputies from across Collier County united against crime on Tuesday as they celebrated National Night Out.
National Night Out is an annual event that heightens crime and drug prevention awareness and strengthens neighborhood spirit. The overriding message is this: Criminals are not welcome in Collier County.
“I love this,” said Mario Sciuto as he and his wife Linda milled through the block party in CCSO’s North Naples District. “It’s just like an Andy of Mayberry kind of event that brings neighbors and families together. I’m really impressed.”
The block party featured an array of CCSO displays, demonstrations and information. Area restaurants donated food and refreshments and the North Naples Fire Department kept kids entertained and cool by spraying them down with their fire hoses.
Ron Turinske and Jim Dagelen have lived in CCSO’s North Naples District for 11 years. At the block party they learned about everything from local laws governing noise levels to how CCSO works with the community and Collier County Code Enforcement to prevent foreclosed homes from drawing crime. By the time they went home they had volunteered to help CCSO keep their neighborhood safe by painting over graffiti as it crops up.
“We really appreciate all the information that’s here,” Turinske said. “And anything we can do to help our neighborhood also helps us.”
For Shayne Lewis, 13, and Dylan Bowers, 12, the best part of the event was watching the CCSO Bomb Squad robot in action.
“They had it open a cooler, take out a can of soda and open it,” Shayne said. “It was awesome!”
More than two dozen people gathered for a community cookout at the corner of Janes Scenic Drive and Lee Cypress Drive in Copeland. Residents chatted with deputies and grabbed CCSO brochures and fliers set up under a white tent, while Lt. Mark Milligan, head of the CCSO substation in Everglades City, grilled hot dogs for the crowd.
Copeland resident Rita Parker walked over carrying a big plate of brownies for the group. This was her fourth National Night Out cookout in the community.
“I think it’s a fantastic idea,” Parker said. “It brings the community together, for one thing, and I like the way the people in the Sheriff’s Office interact. And the young people get a chance to talk to someone from the Sheriff’s Office. It’s a good thing.”
Miles Roberts, 15, tagged along with his dad. The pair talked to Lt. Milligan at the grill.
“This helps the community a lot,” said Miles, who will be a freshman at Everglades City School.
Earlier in the afternoon a large crowd turned out for the CCSO Crime Prevention booth outside Everglades City Hall, where the City Council later read a proclamation in honor of National Night Out.
“People turned out just to show their support,” said CCSO Crime Prevention Specialist Sue Gentry.
In Golden Gate Estates, CCSO Cpl. Eric Grundeman was busy at a table in front of E’s General Store on Immokalee Road. In addition to CCSO, Collier County Code Enforcement and Collier County Domestic Animal Services were providing safety information to the community.
“People are asking a lot about what’s legal and what’s not when it comes to ATVs,” Cpl. Grundeman said. “And they are asking us for information on vehicle burglaries and how they can protect themselves.”
Deputies were busy with National Night Out projects in other areas of the county as well. In addition to offering information from Crime Prevention tables set up outside area stores, deputies sipped drinks and interacted with children and their parents at a lemonade stand in Golden Gate, played foosball and provided popcorn and a movie at East Naples Community Park and walked through neighborhoods handing out safety information in Immokalee.
Click here to watch a video about CCSO's National Night Out activities.
