Duke Police Hosts ‘National Night Out’ 2018

Get your throwing arm ready to dunk an officer at the Duke University Police Department’s National Night Out crime prevention event on Aug. 7. 

The gathering from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Mill Village on Central Campus includes free hot dogs, as well as a corn hole tournament. Duke community members can also have a shot at soaking a Duke police officer in a dunk tank. 

National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that encourages positive relationships between police departments and their communities. Millions of neighbors take part in National Night Out across thousands of communities from all fifty states, U.S. territories and military bases worldwide in August.

“This is the police department’s opportunity to say, ‘thank you’ to the community,” said Daryl Mount, a community services officer for the Duke University Police Department. “A strong relationship between police and everyone on campus means we can protect and serve to the best of our ability.” 

During Duke’s National Night Out event, community members can learn more about safety programs, including Duke’s Citizens Police Academy and the free mobile safety app, LiveSafe. Representatives from other Duke departments will be on hand to provide information about fire hazards and bike safety. Children’s activities include face-painting and cupcake decorating. Guests can enter a drawing for a chance to win a football signed by Duke Football head coach David Cutcliffe. 

Four police officers volunteered to be in the dunk tank: Emergency Communications Officer Desmond Solomon and Officers Staci McGhee, Ashley Haskins and Eric Lyons. 

“We want everyone to have a good time,” Mount said. “Even if that means a few cops have to get dunked.”