Police, community come together on a magical, sun-splashed night

Kids frolic on a Strafford County SWAT team Bearcat Tuesday during Rochester's National Night Out at the Common. (Rochester Voice photos)

ROCHESTER - Some 20 community organizations, dozens of police officers and firefighters and thousands of visitors came together Tuesday night to make what one organizer called Rochester's best ever National Night Out.

National Night Out is a community-police awareness-raising event held nationwide the first Tuesday in August, but in Rochester Police Chief Paul Toussaint took its meaning to a much more personal level.

"Much of the time when people interact with us it's on the worst day of their life," he said looking around at a bustling Common. "But here they get to meet us in a much more relaxed, friendly environment."

Lexi Taylor, a Spaulding High sophomore delivers a memorable rendition of the National Anthem at the start of National Night Out on the Common.

Molly Martuscello of Bridging the Gaps, which is the major co-producer of the event along with Rochester Police, pointed to perfect weather and unprecedented community involvement as the stars.

"Our members and city organizations came out to make this the best National Night Out ever," she said.

Martuscello also said the addition of so many emergency vehicles to the event was a great draw as the kids love them.

Indeed there were miles of smiles from one end of the Common to the other as children clambered upon SWAT team Bearcats and Fish and Game boats, petted Daisy, the renowned Rochester Police K9 culprit-tracking bloodhound and enjoyed free snacks and drinks from dozens of tables.

There were also plenty of community-action groups on hand like Bridging the Gaps, which promotes a drug-free community; and My-Turn, which provides avenues of assistance for young people to pursue their career goals.

Rochester K9 bloodhound Daisy mugs for the camera between "being petted" duties at National Night Out. Tending to Daisy is Rochester Police Officer Keith MacKenzie.

My-Turn Career Specialist Laurie Basham said the organization is working to help young people who have had hardships find a way to get that perfect job and head them to a bright future.

There was also a smoke-house provided by Rochester Fire, a live band playing from the Commons center gazebo, a Color Guard from Rochester High ROTC and a stunning rendition of the National Anthem by Lexi Taylor, a Spaulding High sophomore.

Rochester Mayor Caroline McCarley kicked things off with a warm welcome of everyone who came, declaring, "Rochester is the best city in New Hampshire" to cheers and applause.

Crowds packed the Common and found lots to discover Tuesday night for the city's National Night Out celebration.