Prince William County Comes Together for National Night Out

Members of the Prince William County Police Department, Fire & Rescue, Sheriff's Office and elected officials recently took to neighborhoods across the county for this year's National Night Out. This event is held on the first Tuesday in August each year to build rapport and partnerships between police and members of the community.  

Westminster at Lake Ridge, a senior living community, was among the 13 communities that participated in the countywide event.   

Gary West, a Westminster resident, said he enjoyed the visits with the members of the county’s public safety departments and county officials.  

"I think this is wonderful, that we can recognize our first responders, whether it be police or the fire department," West said.  

Board of County Supervisors Chair At-Large Deshundra Jefferson spoke to the importance of the relationship between public safety, the community and the members of the Board of County Supervisors. 

"National Night Out helps strengthen the relationship between police and the communities they serve, and as members of the Board of County Supervisors, it's important for us to participate to help build trust," Jefferson said. "It's important that Prince William County residents know that elected officials are working closely with law enforcement and first responders to keep our community safe."  

Prince William County Executive Chris Shorter visited several neighborhoods with elected officials and first responders. Along the way, Shorter chatted with community members, including Potomac Shores resident Anthony Whitehead, who enjoyed meeting county representatives.   

"It's absolutely beautiful out here to have the police and firefighters come together. It's great to see. It's just a great time for the kids to come out and play. When you get the community together like this, it's beautiful," Whitehead said.   

"It's always a pleasure to get out in the community to see the people we work for, and I think people in the community like meeting the first responders," Shorter said. "Visiting and meeting people in the community only strengthens that open relationship that local government should have with its constituents."   

Prince William Police Chief Peter Newsham visited several neighborhoods during National Night Out. For more than 15 years, the department has been engaging with communities across the county during National Night Out events to help create opportunities for personal connections between the department and residents.  

"National Night Out not only helps foster and strengthen bonds between the police and communities across the county, but also brings neighbors together to get to know one another and to take pride in where they live," Newsham said. "Through these relationships, we all become stakeholders in making our communities a safe place to live, work and be social."  

Prince William County Fire and Rescue Chief Thomas LaBelle said firefighters also look forward to National Night Out.    

"Firefighters take great pride in being part of the community and supporting our public safety partners in their efforts to create a neighborhood network to prevent crime and enhance the quality of life in the county," LaBelle said.    

Watch this short video from this year’s National Night Out and check out photos from the evening!