Security forces participate in National Night Out

USAF photo: Greg Allen McGruff the Crime Dog gives 2-year old Brennan Emington information about what a crime dog does during the National Night Out Aug. 3 at Greene Acres Park. The second annual event brought local, state and Cannon Air Force Base law enforcement personnel together to meet the public. Brennan, the son of Staff Sgt. David Emington, 27th Special Operations Security Forces Squadron, holds on to his mother Erica Emington’s hand.

Base security forces airmen joined local and state law enforcement officers for National Night Out on Aug. 3 at Greene Acres Park in Clovis.

National Night Out promotes crime prevention awareness, generates support for anti-crime programs and works to strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships.

Rich Jones, public affairs representative for the 27th Special Operations Security Forces Squadron, said that deterring crime is a total effort between law enforcement agencies and the community.

“We had a number of people put a lot of work into this event, but what really matters is what people take from it,” said Jones.

Officers from the Clovis Police Department, Curry Country Sheriff’s Department, New Mexico State Police and Cannon security forces pooled their resources for the evening event. For the younger attendees, Safety Pup and McGruff the Crime Dog made an appearance, and both children and adults had the opportunity look at squad cars, police motorcycles and various police, medical and fire department gear.

Officer Ron Hutchinson has been with the Clovis Police Department for 25 years and said that National Night Out is good way for residents to meet their law enforcement officers and learn about them and their job.

“We rarely get to meet the public in a setting like this,” he said. He added that it is also a good way to connect and reconnect with other law enforcement officers.

For Tech. Sgt. Joe Dolph, a K9 handler with the 27 SOSFS, the evening was a first for him. He said he was deployed during other similar events. Although he brought the K9 vehicle, no dogs were available for the evening.

“I’m answering a lot of questions about what we do as security forces in the Air Force,” he said.

To learn more about crime prevention programs at Cannon, call James Russell at 784-6158.

For more information about other Neighborhood Watches and other programs not Cannon specific, contact the Clovis Police Department community relations at 763-9427 or visit the website at:

http://www.police.cityofclovis.org/index.php/community-programs/neighborhood-watch