Community, law enforcement get together for National Night Out

Tuesday’s National Night Out event will bring representatives from seven law enforcement agencies and the community together for a night of live music, food, face-painting, raffles and, possibly, a helicopter.

Sgt. Ryan Pearson of the Havre Police Department said the point of the event is for the law enforcement community and the public to build and strengthen relationships that will result in the curbing of crime and drug use.

“We’re excited to get the community involved,” Pearson said.

This year’s Night Out will be the fourth in Havre and the 34th event to be held in the U.S., Canada and U.S military bases across the world. Pearson said a total of 38 million people participate yearly.

The event will be held in front of the Student Union Building at Montana State University-Northern from 6 to 8 p.m.

A lot will be packed into those two hours.

Free barbecue donated by the Lions Club will be served and buns and cake by Gary & Leo’s Fresh Foods. Havre High School cheerleaders will be painting faces. Local band Blind Luck will be performing. There will be a gun raffle that will include nine guns and rifles and a gun safe, as well as a bicycle raffles. Five hundred tickets will be sold for the raffle.

As in years past, Pearson is working on getting a helicopter to drop by so kids can climb in, sit in the pilot and passenger seat and put on the pilot’s helmet. For now, he says, it’s looking “ify,” but he’s not the type to quit. Although he may not be able to land one from U.S. Border Patrol, he’s trying to get one from Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks or Benefis’ Hospital Mercy Flight.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks will give a presentation, and the FBI will be “bringing some of their stuff,” Pearson said.

The Hill County Sheriff’s Office, Hill County Search and Rescue, U.S. Border Patrol, Montana Highway Patrol and the Havre Fire Department will also be at the event. The fire department will bring a fire truck.