GRAMERCY — Residents served by the 13th Police Precinct gathered in a Gramercy School's playground to celebrate the annual National Night Out Against Crime on Tuesday.
Children scampered around with colorful balloon hats. Jazz tunes blared from a set of speakers. A bouncy house vibrated with the force of a handful of kids leaping in unison and the smell of hamburgers filled the air.
Each year, the 13th Precinct Community Council and the precinct’s Office of Community Affairs put on the event, which is part of a nationwide effort that seeks to promote crime prevention in local communities.
Of all the National Night Out celebrations in Manhattan, Gramercy usually hosts the largest, said Frank J. Scala, president of the 13th Precinct Community Council.
Scala said he wasn’t sure if they would hold onto the title this year, but they had worked hard to put together a fun night.
“We prepare way in advance,” Scala said, “and we offer a lot of things to the people."
The evening, held at MS 104, included free food from Outback Steakhouse, one of the event’s sponsors, ice cream courtesy of two Mister Softee trucks, clowns, balloon animals, caricatures and a few free gifts.
This year was expected to be the largest ever for National Night Out, with more than 15,500 communities hosting events across the country, according to the National Night Out Web site.
John Siotkas, assistant director of the Baruch College Department of Public Safety, said his booth was getting a lot of attention for the free “personal safety” whistles he was giving out.
“When we hand them to the kids, we tell them to blow them at 5 o’clock in the morning,” he joked.
In addition to vendors, police officers from the 13th Precinct mingled with area residents, and members of the city’s volunteer police force were set up next to a blue police cruiser.
The force is made up of some 4,000 volunteer officers citywide who can make arrests and assist police. But they can’t carry pistols and they don’t get paid, said Auxiliary Lieutenant Anthony Carcana, a volunteer cop for 20 years.
Carcana said they were looking to recruit members for their next class of officers, and he said a few people had expressed interest in getting involved.
“Some people just don’t know about [the program],” he said.
The National Night Out Against Crime was created in 1984 by the National Association of Town Watch in 1984 to heighten awareness and strengthen participation in local anti-crime efforts, according to the NATW Web site.
But Jo-Ann Polise, who organizes the 13th precinct's event every year, said that purpose has changed over the years as crime in the area has decreased.
“We’re very lucky here. We really are. We have a very responsive precinct,” she said.
The event is now much more about bringing members of the community together to enjoy a night of free entertainment.
“They just have a good time,” she said.
