Chuck Seaver, South Lake Tablet
The Clermont Police Department and City of Clermont hosted the annual National Night Out (NNO) at Waterfront Park, 300 Third Street, Clermont on Wednesday, October 1st. The 11thannual event was complete with law enforcement, fire department and public safety displays from agencies throughout the Lake County and West Orange County area.
Members of the Clermont Battalion Sea Cadet Corps opened the festivities with a presentation of the state and national flags while the Rhythm of the Knights Cappella Group from East Ridge High School performed by singing the National Anthem. The Lake Minneola High School Marching Band highlighted the opening with a march and cadence around the Highlander pavilion. The Aurelia Cole Academy Dance Squad performed as the squad enjoyed its 3rd annual appearance before the NNO crowd. Opening remarks were presented by Clermont City Officials including Police Chief John Graczyk, Mayor Tim Murry and City Council Member Chandra Myers.
The Orlando Health-Air Care aviation ambulance team made a grand appearance by flying overhead to the Waterfront Park and landing on the shore of Lake Minneola while a beautiful sunset played out as a backdrop. Agencies presented everything public safety related to K-9 units to vintage crime fighting equipment, modern day and state-of-the-art mobile command centers, traffic safety prsentations and high-tech crime-scene procedure displays.
The Lake County Emergency Communications team was on hand to proudly showoff the team’s ability to extend radio communication abilities through ham radio capabilities for first responders during natural or manmade disasters that might limit traditional two-way radio traffic among public safety personnel.
The annual event was free of charge to guests and provided an opportunity for area residents to meet their first responders, local business vendors, and not-for-profit organizations on a one-on-one basis and in a family-friendly atmosphere.
The NNO is an annual community- relationship building campaign that began in 1984, with the intention of promoting police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods safer, more caring, places to live. Millions of neighbors take part in NNO across thousands of communities from all fifty states and U.S. territories while providing a great opportunity to bring police and neighbors together under positive circumstances.
The Clermont Police Department works hard at fostering an environment of positive community relations all year with programs such as Coffee with a Cop, Crime Prevention tips, Business Safety programs, a Citizens Academy Awareness class, numerous holiday season events, and partnered charity causes.
Visit www.clermontfl.gov/police-department or Facebook/Clermont Police Department (FL) for future community event details.
