Horses, Helicopter, Sopping Cop, Outcast Care: Mount Hope Night Out Against Crime
Hundreds of people, age six months to 60-plus, appeared to all find some amusement at Mount Hope Night Out Against Crime last weekend. Some came to the town park to mix merriment with more serious matters. Among the merry were children watching a helicopter take off or petting the horses used to patrol the mountain by Otisville prison. Also gleeful were children who dunked Sgt. Anna Briceno, of Mount Hope police, by throwing balls at a target that, when hit, tripped a lever that dropped her into a tub of water.
In the background sounded a classic rock medley—In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida, Play that Funky Music White Boy, and so on—from a pavilion where a crowd gathered to listen.
“We came for the concert because of a flyer we got at a deli,” said Kevin Persaud, of Westbrookville. “We like the festivities, and there’ll be fireworks later. It’s gonna be fun.”
With him was his wife, Allison, and daughter, Olivia.
Outside the pavilion strolled Nigel Balgobin, a Mount Hope police officer, in uniform in a relaxed way. What had he liked so far?
“It’s a nice feeling with the community, the band, food and police interacting,” he said. “I liked letting the kids sit in the humvee.”
Nearby, another Mount Hope office, Manuel Medeiros, strolled with his daughters Julianna, 5, and Leah, 11. In November, he had transferred from the Bronx, where his precinct had 200,000 people, he said. He worked there four years.
“I loved working in the Bronx. It was busy,” said Medeiros. “I like Mount Hope because it’s family oriented.”
Julianna said she liked the helicopter.
“I liked the big tent with the food,” said Leah.
“Which food?”
“The popcorn,” she said.
In the tent, several nonprofits and District Attorney David Hoovler had tables. At Hoovler’s table, someone handed out orange canvas bags with “REPORT CRIME” in big letters, along with the tip line number, 845-291-2106.
Nearby, a Hope Not Handcuffs representative reminded passersby that drug abusers can come to the Mount Hope Police Department and ask for treatment help without getting arrested. Police call HNH volunteers, who assist them with making arrangements for treatment.
The popcorn Leah Medeiros liked probably came from the Rotary Club table at the end of the row. Beyond popping corn, Rotary has apparently been on the move.
“We have about 70 projects,” enthused Josephine Bloomfield.
They range from building a ramp for a local man with a disability and providing various scholarships, to sponsoring children of lepers—outcasts in India—providing them with food, shelter and education. For disaster victims they provide huge totes that contain a tent and tools, so they can live near their collapsed homes.
Beyond the tent, Mount Hope Police Chief Paul Rickard chatted with people in the crowd, which he estimated to number about 500.
“Night Out gives police a chance to mingle with people they might not otherwise encounter,” he said. “People who don’t normally contact us might mention something that could be addressed.”
This was the second Night Out for Mount Hope, he noted, and the horses and helicopter were a new addition. As the day darkened, he headed toward a table to select raffle winners. Someone won a bike! Then came the fireworks. Some people drifted toward their cars, but many watched the sparkly burst after the booms.