Annual Town Watch Night Brings Community, Police Together

As the sun set on Tuesday, families settled in on their blankets and sheets for the evening's main feature -- Homeward Bound. 

The movie was featured at the park as a part of the town watch night out, something the community has been participating in for more than two decades. 

"Whenever the community shows support for the police, it's a boost for us," 5th district Captain John Cerrone said. "The people are the nucleus of any community and if one person gets involved it sort of creates a domino effect."

The evening was a chance for neighbors to mingle and create community-police partnerships because, according to Cerrone, "community members are key in helping fight crime."

And that community effort and committment, Officer Charlie Kline said, is what made the event happen. 

Shop Rite donated snacks and drinks, the Ridge Runners brought some of their classic cars to show and New York Life hosted Child ID. 

At the Child ID station, kids were being fingerprinted, photographed and even taped in the event that anything were to happen.

"It's an immediate press kit," a representative with New York Life said. 

And even though she'd never heard of the service, Andorra resident Meghan Pellicone said it was one she was definitey taking advantage of. 

"It's something I'd never thought of but it's a great idea," she said, adding that her 4-year-old Clare was getting it done that evening but Louisa, her 15-month-old might have to wait until next year.

Tuesday's event was the family's first time at the night out event. 

"I was thinking about it and realized we never really look for things to do in our own neighborhood," she said. "But it's great, we were just looking for something different to do."

The same went for Roxborough residents Sarah and Ken Howells, who had set up a prime spot for the outdoor showing of Homeward Bound with visitors from Seattle Aidan, 11, and Frances, 5.  

"We were looking for a kid-friendly movie that they hadn't seen in the movie theater and we just couldn't find one and then we heard about this," she said, adding that an added bonus is being able to watch outside. "You don't get to do this too often."

"And the price is right," Ken added of the free event.