Initiative aims to strengthen bonds between Kentucky law enforcement, community

LONDON, Ky. (FOX 56) — On Tuesday, communities across the country will be celebrating “National Night Out.”

The initiative is meant to allow residents to meet their law enforcement officers in a more relaxed, casual setting.

In London, Officer Hobie Daugherty said this is a night meant to strengthen the bonds between the police department as well as surrounding agencies with the community.

The city of London will be hosting its National Night Out event at the Wellness Park near the Laurel County Public Library on Tuesday, Aug. 5.

Daugherty said there’ll be several different stands for people to check out, connecting them with community resources, as well as food trucks.

This year, London police are partnering with CSX to give out toys for kids of all ages.

Daugherty said people who come out will get to see some of the different types of equipment first responders use. For him, he said this is an event he looks forward to every year.

Daugherty said he loves seeing the smiles on the kids’ faces and hopes events like this will inspire them to serve.

“It’s something that we can maybe pique their interest now and show them that, hey, this is what we’re all about,” Daugherty explained. “We love our community, and that’s really what it’s about, is the love for the community and wanting to serve the people that we live with here in the community and that we want to.”

Daugherty said events like National Night Out are also great ways of establishing connections, so when tragedy occurs in a community, everyone is able to band together.

May’s deadly tornado, which tore through parts of Laurel County, was something we may never see again in this community, at least in this lifetime.

Daugherty said the way the community rallied with law enforcement and first responders to help during the recovery process was one of the many drivers why he loves London. When he and his comrades were running on fumes, people who had lost everything were stepping up to help, and everyone was truly doing their part.

He believes the relationships that were formed at events like National Night Out allowed residents the opportunity to truly see what the men and women who serve to protect their community do, so when they needed a hand, people who lost everything were still willing to lend one.

“People a lot of times see us during their worst days,” Daugherty described. “We hope that we can bring a shining light to our community because we love them so much that we do all kinds of programs like National Night Out, we do our citizens’ academy. The fire department does beat the heat. We host tons and tons of events throughout the year, and it’s really all about the community.”

National Night Out will go from 7 to 9 p.m. You can learn more here.