Upper Macungie Celebrates National Night Out

Upper Macungie Township residents flocked to Lone Lane Park Tuesday night by the hundreds to join the township's new police force for its first National Night Out.

By any measure, the evening was a success.

Kids crawled into and around police cars, fire trucks and special vehicles. They lined up for the moon bounce and face painting.

Adults watched police presentations and mingled over food and drink and browsed information provided by police and local businesses.

"One of the first things Chief (Edgardo) Colon did was expand the Community Relations Division from one to three people," said Sgt. Peter Nickischer.

Nickischer is joined in the division by Officers Pam Mathias and Adam Miller.

"We've never done this before and the community, business and police are celebrating as a team," Nickischer said. "We're sending a message to the bad guys that we're working as one."

Nickischer said Upper Macungie has always been ahead of the policing game, having offered residents police information through the Nixle alert system.

Events included a motorcycle demonstration, a K-9 demonstration, bicycle registration, child safety seat inspection, local food pantry collection, Miller-Keystone bloodmobile drive, a cupcake contest, face-painting, moonwalk and DJ music.