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Politics & Government

Lakehurst To Hold Annual National Night Out Tuesday

The community and law enforcement will come together for a night focusing on crime prevention

The in conjunction with borough and the Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst are holding this year's National Night Out event on Tuesday, Aug. 2.

Lakehurst Chief of Police Eric Higgins said that he is looking forward to the event, which will be held from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the baseball field on Chestnut Street.

“It is a night for everyone in the community to get together for the purpose of crime prevention," he said. "It is a stand we all take — police, the governing body of Lakehurst and the community — to show we are all united against crime. That is the main message of National Night Out”.

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Officer Matt Kline, coordinator of Lakehurst's celebration, said that he is happy that the community and police department can come together for the event, which is held across the country on the first Tuesday in August.

"It is an event where police officers and the community can talk and get to know each other," he said. "It also shows that the police are friends, and police coming to your house might not always be a bad thing."

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Higgins agreed.

“It also an opportunity to bring the community in to see the police department in a different way,” he said.

The chief said that the prizes, food and entertainment are donated. He stressed that this does not cost the taxpayers of Lakehurst anything. 

“It is a fun, carnival type atmosphere," Higgins said. "Everything is completely free. We pay for it through donations and from our corporate sponsors including Target and the military base also makes donations.”

The chief said vendors are not allowed to make any sales and neither they nor the police department will make any money.

"It is absolutely free — that is part of our credo," he said. "It is totally non-profit."

Higgins said that he believes the event has something for residents of all ages.

"We have kiddie rides, informational booths for the adults, and we have static displays. We will have the state police bring out their helicopter and we are having the band Goldenseal play again," he said.

Higgins hopes to bring many residents out for the fun and free night of entertainment and crime prevention.

“It is a really good time," he said.

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