By Lea Kahn, Staff Writer
Ask Jai Cooley what is his favorite part about National Night Out, and he is quick to respond “putting on the fireman’s suit.”
Jai was one of dozens of children who gathered around the Lawrence Road Fire Co.’s fire engine Tuesday night in Heritage Park trying on firefighter’s gear and climbing up into the cab.
It was a warm night, and Jai was perspiring heavily as volunteer firefighter Radek Szaja helped him get out of the helmet, jacket and pants. But it was worth it, the 10-year-old boy said.
Jai also liked shooting hoops on the basketball court nearby. But it cost him 50 jumping jacks to pick up a souvenir T-shirt from the New Jersey Army National Guardsmen, who had set up a table at the event.
The New Jersey Army National Guard unit was one of many exhibitors at the event. The Lindsey Meye Teen Institute at Lawrence High School set up a table, as did the Lawrence chapter of the League of Women Voters, the Princeton Healthcare System and the Lawrence Township Alcohol and Drug Abuse Alliance.
While the fire engine was a big draw for children and adults alike, many youngsters gathered around to watch Police Officer Ron Buchanan put the Police Department’s two K-9 dogs through their paces. One of the dogs searched for “hidden drugs” and the other for “hidden explosives” that had been planted on a car.
The children giggled as Officer Buchanan wrestled with the two dogs one at a time, of course. As the dog held onto a rolled-up cloth, the police officer swung the dog around in a circle. The dog also climbed onto the police officer’s shoulder as he was playing with him.
Sharon McNeill, who lives in Eggerts Crossing Village, said she came out to the event to help support the Lawrence Township Police Department. She also brought her children to the event so they could have some fun, she said.
”My favorite part is the children enjoying themselves and having fun,” Ms. McNeill said.
And of course, the food wasn’t bad hamburgers and hot dogs on the grill, prepared by several Lawrence Township police officers. There were chips and soft drinks, plus watermelon for dessert.
The Lawrence Township Police Department has held National Night Out at Eggerts Crossing Village for the past several years, said police Lt. Thomas Ritter. The goal of National Night Out is to bring the community together and to take a stand against crime, he said.
Billed as “America’s night out against crime,” National Night Out was created by the National Association of Town Watch in1984, according to its website, www.nationalnightout.org. The crime and drug prevention event is held on the first Tuesday in August.
About 400 communities in 23 states took part in the first National Night Out. This year, more than 37 million people were expected to participate in the event in 15,000 communities in the United States and Canada.

