For Charleston Police Chief Brent Webster, National Night Out is about making friends with members of the community - and given recent events, he believes that's more important this year than ever before.
"We've got to make every interaction as positive as we can and, really, try to make friends," he said Tuesday evening at Charleston's Orchard Manor. "That's what you want to do."
Police cars paraded around Orchard Manor before the celebration began, flashing blue and red lights as residents community looked on, visibly excited for the celebrations the evening had in store.
Webster said the purpose of National Night Out is to give police officers and community members a chance to fellowship and get to know their neighbors.
The main idea, he said, is to give communities the chance to see officers in a positive light.
"So many of our interactions might be a traffic stop. It might be when someone's victimized," Webster said, as Orchard Manor residents celebrated around him.
Police officers have been shot and killed in Dallas and Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in recent weeks, after police in Louisiana and Minnesota shot and killed two black men.
With police relations with communities being such a contentious topic these days, Webster said, events like these are especially important.
"Year in, year out, they're important," he said. "But in light of what's going on this year, maybe even more."
National Night Out has always been well received in the Charleston area, Webster said, particularly at Orchard Manor. During the event, Webster said, officers offer safety tips to residents, like reminding them to keep their homes well-lit at night and recommending that they always lock the doors of their vehicles.
Local police officers weren't the only ones recognized at the event. Around 6 p.m., a helicopter landed in the field behind the community playground. Charles McDowell, director of the West Virginia Aviation Division, and 1st Sgt. Shawn Colbert, director of aviation for the State Police, piloted the aircraft.
After the helicopter came to a stop, children swarmed around it to take a look inside. McDowell said this is the second year the helicopter has been featured at the Orchard Manor National Night Out and that it was a big hit with kids last year.
The Charleston Fire Department was on display at the celebration, as well, adding a red fire truck to the opening parade. After parking the truck, Charleston Fire Capt. Scott Harper let children try on the heavy air tanks that firefighters wear.
Harper said National Night Out is a great way to promote fire safety and let kids know what a firefighter does.
"Sometimes, the uniforms scare kids, so it's good for them to be able to interact so close," Harper said as children climbed around inside the large vehicle. "And a lot of them don't get to see firetrucks. I never got to see a firetruck until I got on the job, and that was 22 years ago."
Cory Johnson, 12, was sitting in the driver's seat of the firetruck. Johnson said he didn't think the firefighter's air tank was too heavy. For him, National Night Out is a "fun chance to bring out all the kids in the neighborhood."
Tray Coleman, owner of Tray's Barbershop, on the East End, gave free haircuts in the Roger F. Switzer Community Center. Coleman has offered free haircuts in the past, but had to take the past two years off because of an illness.
"This is another way to bring the community together with the law enforcement," Coleman said. "I think it's vital for this to be people coming together and showing that we're united in the community."
In Charleston, National Night Out was celebrated in several neighborhoods, from Washington Manor to Lee Terrace to Hillcrest Village.
Webster said the police department notifies communities about the National Night Out date and that it's up to members of the community to host the festivities.
Several other communities hosted events, as well, including Dunbar, Parkersburg and Martinsburg.
Reach Jared Casto at jared.casto@wvgazettemail.com, 304-348-4832 or follow @JaredCasto on Twitter.