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Lewes hosts National Night Out event

Community interacts with law enforcement at annual picnic
Mayor Andrew Williams is about to hit the water in the dunk tank, again, at the annual National Night Out event Aug. 6. The event brought people to George H.P. Smith Park to meet local law enforcement and firefighters. BILL SHULL PHOTOS
Bill Shull
August 12, 2024

It is not every night Lewes Police officers have time to flip burgers, but National Night Out was one of those nights.

The city held its annual community-building event Aug. 6 in George H.P. Smith Park, where officers indeed served up burgers and hot dogs for the public. They also got a lot of praise for their service to the community.

“It’s a good way to meet with residents in a non-enforcement capacity and just get to know them. They get to know police officers out of uniform,” said Lewes Police Chief Tom Spell.

Night Out was also a chance for people to interact with Lewes firefighters, the Coast Guard and law enforcement from around the area. 

Besides hot dogs, there were K-9 officers and McGruff the Crime Dog to keep children entertained.

“It’s a great opportunity to interact with the residents of Lewes in an informal setting and give back to the community,” said Lewes Mayor Andrew Williams. “We’re very proud of our police. They serve us well.”

Williams was first to take a turn in the dunk tank, followed by some of the newest Lewes police officers.

The Lewes Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee ran a bike corral for kids to promote safety.

“They take a slow roll, stop, then wind through a figure eight and obstacles,” said Committee Chair Mary Roth.

 

Lewes Police Lt. James Azato grills up burgers and hot dogs at National Night Out.
Trooper Patrick Jackson shows off the lights on his SUV at National Night Out.
Some young ladies stop by to chat with DNREC Police Sgt. Tim Hamlett.
Delaware River and Bay Authority Police Sgt. Jonathan Costa and his K-9 Kobe.
Rehoboth Beach police officer Tim Chan talks with Carrie Nickerson of Lewes at his tent.
The Lewes-Rehoboth Rotary Club is well represented by (l-r) Dan Klopp, Jeff Kitchen, Katie Millard and Gerry Smith.
McGruff the Crime Dog is a big hit with Carrie Nickerson, left, and Deidre Spruill of Lewes.
Lt. Danielle Taylor, commander of the newly established Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Lewes, hugs her dog, which is named Dog.
The team from Mission BBQ in Rehoboth Beach brought food to the event. Shown are (l-r) Brian Manson, Danielle Johnson, Ron Lewis and Tom Stachowski.
Michael Van Matre rides a bike, assisted by Randolph Jordan, in the Lewes Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee’s bike corral.
Amy Kevis, a project consultant with the Delaware Division of Public Health, left, and Jim Deel, co-chair of the Sussex County Community Response Team, represent Public Safety Solutions, whose services include Narcan training.
The Rev. Deborah McCaffity shows off her arm at the dunk tank. Mayor Andrew Williams was the victim at the time.
Coast Guard Lt. Danielle Taylor, left, talks with Lewes Police Chief Tom Spell.
Lewes firefighter Joey Esposito demonstrated how they put on all their gear to fight a fire.

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Bill Shull has been covering Lewes for the Cape Gazette since 2023. He comes to the world of print journalism after 40 years in TV news. Bill has worked in his hometown of Philadelphia, as well as Atlanta and Washington, D.C. He came to Lewes in 2014 to help launch WRDE-TV. Bill served as WRDE’s news director for more than eight years, working in Lewes and Milton. He is a 1986 graduate of Penn State University. Bill is an avid aviation and wildlife photographer, and a big Penn State football, Phillies and PGA Tour golf fan. Bill, his wife Jill and their rescue cat, Lucky, live in Rehoboth Beach.

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