National Night Out returns to Ocala

Kimberly Wilkerson of the anti-gun violence and victim advocacy group War Cry 4 Peace speaks as group member Monique Weeks, Chicara James of the Estella Byrd Whitman Clinic, Jeremy Vickers of the Marion County Children’s Alliance and Jamel Browning, with Walmart, provide a visual representation during the National Night Out event to unite the community with law enforcement to promote safer and friendlier neighborhoods on Aug. 27 in Ocala. [Photo by Andy Fillmore]

Home » Community

Posted August 28, 2024 | By Andy Fillmore, [email protected]

For the first time in about 10 years, a National Night Out celebration was held in Ocala. The event, sponsored by the Ocala Police Department and several private and governmental organizations, was aimed at connecting neighbors and building relationships with law enforcement toward a goal of “safer and more caring” neighborhoods.

The annual nationwide community campaign was started in 1984 by the National Association of Town Watches and 110 cities in Florida alone participated this year, according to the association’s website. The Ocala celebration was held at Lillian F. Bryant Park at 2200 NW 17th Place.

Tara Woods, OPD’s Community Liaison and Community Policing Bureau Coordinator, was pleased with the turnout, which saw the park’s parking lot filled up and overflow cars parked at the adjacent Mary Sue Rich Community Center at Reed Place in spite of thunderstorms in the area. Woods said the event has not been held in Ocala since about 2014.

OPD Chief Michael Balken and several officers joined the celebration, which featured guest speakers, food, dancing and information booths from various community resources, including the College of Central Florida, the Active Marion Project, OPD and Ocala Fire Rescue.

Ashley Lopez, public information officer with OFR, said their booth provided community members with information about free smoke alarms and how to register, for example, a special needs person living at a particular address who would need extra assistance in the event of an emergency at that address.

Balken said the event was about neighbors and law enforcement meeting and that he had chatted with two young men who, under other circumstances, might have shied away.

“We want people in the community to run to us, not away from us,” Balken said.

Balken said if the event protects “one person” it is worthwhile.

“This is a great coming together for the community and OPD,” said Jason Dowdy, 43, who lives near the park.

Latoya Garrepp, who also lives in the area, said she has raised three adult children, now in their 20s, and has young grandchildren and felt that the Night Out event was a “good way” to bring the community closer.

Diana McDowell, Annabeth Giron, and her daughter, Luna, 5, were enjoying the music while Luna had ice cream.

“This is exciting, interactive and well needed,” McDowell said.

OPD officer Patrick Uronu participated in a few of the group line dances. He said the event was to show that law enforcement is “part of the community” and to “bridge the gap” with people.

Uronu said the Night Out event let kids know that officers are “like any person” when not fighting crime in uniform.

OPD Deputy Chief Louis Biondi said the turnout was good and that he expects the annual event will “gain momentum.”

Ocala Mayor Ben Marciano also was on hand for the event.

Kimberly Wilkerson of War Cry 4 Peace, an anti-gun violence and victim advocacy group in Ocala, told attendees the night was focused on “unification” of the community to build relationships and reduce crime and gun violence. She narrated as four members of community joined her on the stage and held a different color square that they joined together in symbolic unification.

Monique Weeks of War Cry for Peace, Chicara James of the Estella Byrd Whitman Clinic, Jeremy Vickers of the Marion County Children’s Alliance and Jamel Browning, with Walmart, provided the visual representation.

Javier Rabadan held his daughter, Ari, 2, as they walked around the venue. He said the event was “awesome.”

Darren Park, director of the city of Ocala Public Works, was accompanied by a group of the department’s employees as they cooked up hamburgers and hot dogs. Mission BBQ also served food.

Trey Robinson with the city’s Parks and Recreation Department said he works at Lillian F. Bryant Park and that, being likely the youngest employee, the youth related to him.

Mary Howard, who lives in the vicinity, said she was taking an evening walk when she passed the park entrance and decided to go in.

“Fantastic,” Howard said about the event.

To learn more about National Night Out, go to natw.org