by Dan Farnkoff

Hundreds of people gathered in Adams Park in the early evening of August 2 to celebrate the National Night Out, an annual event designed to encourage and support collaboration between citizens and police in united efforts to keep neighborhoods safe.

Liz Tobin of the Healthy Roslindale Coalition began the official program for the evening by welcoming everyone and giving a brief history of the tradition. “This is the 22nd annual Night Out against Crime, and the 9th celebration to be organized by the Healthy Roslindale Coalition,” she said. Music was provided by part-time DJ and cable television host Glenn Williams. Information tables were set up around the park and were staffed by representatives from a variety of organizations ranging from the West Roxbury District Court to the Litter Posse to Roslindale Youth Mobilizing for Change on Alcohol.

“National Night Out is an event that recognizes people who work in community crime watches and other organizations trying to improve the quality of life,” said Karen Payne, also a member of the Healthy Roslindale Coalition. “It begins with the mayors of Boston and Cambridge meeting at the Pepper Street Bridge, after which they take tours of their respective cities, making stops in various neighborhoods.”

The gathering came right on the heels of an awards dinner at the John Hancock building where a number of Boston area crime watches were honored. The Lower Metropolitan Crime Watch, founded by resident Rick Ward, had received special recognition at that event for being the one most committed and effective in the entire City of Boston.

Captain John Kervin of the Boston Police Department’s Area “E” emphasized the importance of community participation in preventing crime. “We as the police can’t do it alone,” he said. “Often we depend on the people in the neighborhoods to be our eyes and ears,” he explained.

Citywide City Council candidate Matt O’Malley, who had visited a number of the Boston’s neighborhoods along with the Mayor, stated that the assembly in Adams Park was one of the largest he had seen all day. “It’s a real testament to the character of this neighborhood that there’s such a good turnout. It shows that this is a safe neighborhood and that people are committed to looking out for one another,” he said.

While awaiting the Mayor’s arrival, attendees at the Night Out were entertained by performing groups, including Tanya’s Dance and Fitness Center of Dedham, the Center for Asian Martial Arts of Roslindale, Dance Academy of Hyde Park, and “Mixed Emotions” from Hyde Park’s Riverside Theater Works. Eventually, Mayor Menino and police commissioner Kathleen O’Toole began their approach down Cummins Highway toward Adams Park, accompanied by an impressive entourage of about 30 police cruisers and 12 police motorcycles, with lights flashing and sirens blaring.

Addressing those assembled, the Mayor thanked everyone for participating in the event, as well as for playing an integral role in keeping the streets of Boston safe. “This is one of the best crowds we’ve seen all day, probably because it’s one of the best communities,” he said. “There are now 1,271 neighborhood crime watches in the City of Boston, people coming together to try to make the city safer. It really does take the efforts of everyone to make it work,” he added, echoing the comments of Captain Kervin.

The Mayor then presented special awards to Marie Dever and Sintia Rosario, two Roslindale residents who have been especially active in local crime watches and community-safety initiatives. Menino called Ms. Dever “very passionate” and marveled at the fact that, despite her very busy schedule, she still “always finds time to make community meetings a priority.”

The Mayor then touted Ms. Rosario’s impressive record of service in Roslindale since emigrating from the Dominican Republic to America in the early 1990’s. He noted that Ms. Rosario, an active member of both her church and of neighborhood groups, has sacrificed much of her time to helping others and to keeping the City safe. Ms. Rosario’s son Alex was on hand to receive the award for his mother, who was unable to attend the ceremony.

Patricia Homsy, a first-time attendee at the event, thought the night was both enjoyable and meaningful. “This is a nice way of bringing the community together,” she said as she watched the additional musical performances that followed the Mayor’s departure to yet another neighborhood. She went on to add, “I think they should have events like this on a more regular basis. Things like this are very healthy for the community.”