There are many ways to define a community: One could point to a shared location or identity, for example, or a shared experience like the recent Hurricane Beryl. Despite the difficulties that came with that event and its aftermath, the Houston community (CenterPoint excluded) emerged with a reaffirmed faith in the compassion and support afforded us by our neighbors and colleagues.

At risk of stating the obvious, these relationships don’t happen by accident—they must be cultivated meticulously. This is the mission of UHD's celebration of National Night Out: To strengthen the ties that bind the Gator community together, and those ties that connect UHDPD and local law enforcement officers to the citizens they serve and protect.  

To wit, the UHDPD invites all Gators and their family members to the on-campus National Night Out (NNO) event at 5 p.m., Tuesday, October 1, on the South Deck of the One Main Building. Food and refreshments will be served, and several UHDPD officers will also serve up some lessons on how to stay safe in a variety of situations. There will also be various vendors on hand, as well as games, music, and of course...fun! 

“Strong, positive relationships and mutual trust are essential for community policing,” says UHDPD Chief Casey Davis. “Events like National Night Out ensure that students, staff, faculty, and citizens know who we are. It puts a face to the badge and helps strengthen our bond with them. Strong police-community relations benefit both the police and the community, creating a safer environment for everyone."

The NNO national organization says that these open, community-wide events also promote dialogue between police and locals, and they also remind citizens that the burden of a safe and secure doesn’t just fall on the laps of the first responders and police—we all, every one of us, have a crucial part to play.