Hundreds come out to enjoy games, hay rides, bounce houses and more
FARMINGTON – Although he spends much of his free time officiating high school basketball games, Farmington Police Department Chief Steve Hebbe sheepishly admitted that he didn’t fare too well against many of the youngsters who challenged him to a free throw contest during his agency’s National Night Out celebration on Oct. 4 at Berg Park.
“Yes, they have,” Hebbe said, smiling when asked if he had been schooled by some of the young shooters. “There’s a lot of pressure on me. Everyone wants to win in the head.”
Hebbe was joined by Farmington Fire Department Chief Robert Sterrett at the Beat the Chiefs a Basketball Toss station, where kids could test their shooting skills against any of the Chiefs for a small fee. Proceeds from the challenge benefited the Sant Joan chapter of the National Alliance against Mental Illness.
That attraction was just one of dozens that drew steady traffic during the event, part of a national community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships. Hebbe was very pleased with the crowd at the celebration, which appeared to number around 1,000 people.
“This turnout might be our biggest yet,” he said, noting that because of the response to COVID-19, this was the first time since 2019 that his department was able to hold National Night Out without any restrictions.
Hebbe said his department has always had a strong commitment to engaging with the community, and events like National Night Out help cement that bond.
“We love the support we get from this,” he said.
Visitors to the free event enjoyed dodgeball games, hay rides, music, a dance competition, two bounce houses, a police department canine unit demonstration and a pumpkin patch, among other attractions.
It also included sales of Navajo tacos and donuts to help cover the medical costs of Officer Jared Stock, who suffered a medical emergency in June and is still recovering.
This year’s event was dedicated to the goal of destigmatizing mental illness and celebrating recovery.
Mike Easterling can be reached at 505-564-4610 or measterling@daily-times.com. Support local journalism with a digital subscription: http://bit.ly/2I6TU0e.
