FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
August 7, 2015

CONTACT: Peter Van Delft
(617) 704-6682

SHERIFF TOMPKINS, DEPARTMENT DELIVER PUBLIC SAFETY MESSAGE TO SUFFOLK COUNTY FOR NATIONAL NIGHT OUT

Suffolk County Sheriff Steven W. Tompkins and members of the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department joined with other representatives of local law enforcement and community organizations to help celebrate National Night Out, 2015.

An annual county and country–wide event, National Night Out (NNO) is a program that cultivates and strengthens partnerships among the citizens, law enforcement, city and state agencies and community–based organizations. NNO also celebrates the important contributions of neighborhood watch groups and each year, organizers work to increase participation in neighborhood watch programs among local residents.

Crisscrossing the neighborhoods of Suffolk County, Sheriff Tompkins and members of the Department visited Brighton, Hyde Park, Roslindale, Jamaica Plain, Mattapan, Roxbury, East Boston, Chinatown, the South End, the North End, South Boston, Dorchester, Revere and Chelsea speaking about the importance of community participation and collaboration with law enforcement for safe neighborhoods.

Joining a two–day cavalcade with Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, Boston Police Commissioner William Evans, Superintendent In–Chief William Gross, scores of law enforcement and public health and safety officials, District Attorney Dan Conley and many other members of city and state government, Sheriff Tompkins spoke about community engagement and participation.

“We are here to work with you as your public servants to help make our communities safe, secure and more vibrant,” said Sheriff Tompkins during one his many stops. “National Night Out is about all of us coming together to acknowledge our work toward this goal.”

Sheriff Tompkins and the Department also joined with Chelsea City Manager Tom Ambrosino, Chelsea Chief of Police Brian Kyes, members of Chelsea City Council and others for a stop across the bridge from Boston.

On the second day of the NNO cavalcade, festivities were briefly interrupted by a pair of ferocious downpours of rain and pebble–sized hail, prompting Sheriff Tompkins to voice his admiration for the attendees of the day’s events.

“It is heartening to see so many people out here, particularly after all of the inclement weather we’ve had today, because it shows that you really care about your community and what this day represents,” said Sheriff Tompkins. “Your work with us in the neighborhoods is so important because we can’t do it alone. We really appreciate your commitment to making our neighborhoods a better place to live, not only for yourselves, but for your neighbors as well.”

As an additional part of the Department’s outreach to Suffolk County, employees distributed Sheriff Tompkins’ “Safety Tips For Kids” coloring books, crayons and Junior Deputy Badges, while administering the Department’s Ident–A–Youth program in various locations.

For more information about the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department and its community outreach, visit: www.scsdma.org.