FORT SILL, Oklahoma (Aug. 17, 2019) -- On a muggy summer evening, hundreds of Fort Sill families gathered at three Corvias Military Living community centers for the post's first National Night Out, Aug. 7, from 6-8 p.m.
The annual national event promoted community awareness for crime prevention, was an opportunity for neighbors to meet, and the installation also used it as an outreach for its Army community services.
Children sat in parked police cruisers, fire trucks, and ambulances, all while getting to meet their local first responders. Each center also showcased an aspect of law enforcement, or emergency response. The community watched a military working dog demonstration at Buffalo Soldier Acres. At Southern Plains, Sparky the Fire Dog mascot and McGruff the Crime Dog greeted children. And, children could try on riot gear at Old Post Cavalry.
Fort Sill Provost Marshal and Director of Emergency Services (DES) Lt. Col. Kurt Nielson, and Provost and DES Sgt. Maj. José Barbosa visited the centers hosting National Night Out activities. Nielson said the event was an opportunity for the community to foster a relationship with first responders.
"We (DES) want to develop that rapport, develop that relationship with the community so that they know their first responders," Nielson said. "That's the centerpiece of community policing."
"We are here for them, we are approachable and we will hear complaints, issues or their concerns and that we will do our best to address them," he said.
National Night Out was also a chance for neighbors to meet. It was neighborhood watch organizations which really originated National Night Out in 1984, Nielson said. It started out with about a couple million folks spread over 400 communities; now it's over 16,000 communities with tens of millions of people.
The provost marshal urged members of the Fort Sill community to keep their eyes open because he said they are the best resource to prevent crime.
"If you see something that doesn't look right, it probably isn't, so give us a call," Nielson said.
Barbosa was instrumental in creating Fort Sill's first National Night Out, which was a monumental task, the provost marshal said.
Over the past five months, Barbosa said he coordinated with units and agencies, researched how other forts have conducted National Night Out, and drew on his own experiences with the event at other installations.
He said he wanted the community to feel comfortable with DES staff and its services. He used the hands-on ambulance display where visitors got strapped in a stretcher, as an example.
"OK, I remember being in an ambulance -- it's not as traumatic as it seems to be on TV," Barbosa said.
Fort Sill's National Night Out also highlighted many Army Community Service programs, the sergeant major said.
"It's sad that a lot of military spouses don't know that these agencies exist to help them," Barbosa said. There are programs out there for financial readiness, addressing domestic abuse, or substance abuse.
Leslie Watts, Fort Sill Sexual Harrassment/Assault Response and Prevention, or SHARP program manager, had an information table at the Old Cavalry Post Community Center. She said SHARP representatives from 30th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, and garrison were also represented at the Buffalo Soldier Acres and Southern Plains community centers, respectively.
"This is an awesome opportunity to interact with the spouses, which we typically don't get the opportunity to interface with," she said. "We're telling them about the sexual harassment/assault program, and let them know that we have a resource center on Craig Road that they can come to if they're seeking information."
New Fort Sill Garrison Commander Col. Don King; and Garrison Command Sgt. Maj. John Lutgens together rotated through the community centers. King said community awareness is the foundation for crime prevention.
"It is through the relationships that we have in the community that, in most part, deters crime," the commander said. "The more time we spend together, the more connected we are as a community."
And, Fort Sill Police Chief Joe Glanzer said neighbor crime watches are just people watching out for people.
"If you see something, say something," he said.
Pfc. Chelsea Woodward, and Staff Sgt. Darryl Johnson, 40th Military Police Detachment, manned a table that provided free National Night Out knapsacks for children at Old Cavalry Post. The knapsacks contained wristbands, balloons, and other goodies.
"We're out here to build a great relationship with the community," Woodward said. "We're letting them know that we are here for them."
Army wife Lacey Laughlin participated in National Night Out with her family because she thought it would be fun for the children to see the police cars and firetrucks. They also took advantage of the DNA and fingerprint kits for children.
"I've got to keep my kids safe, and the kit is good until they're 18," she said.
Barbosa said Fort Sill will continue to conduct an annual National Night Out celebration.
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