Tyler kicks off National Night Out – Test

Published 4:01 pm Saturday, September 7, 2019

By Staff Reports

Two-year-old Jadiel Delgato eyes his cone of cotton candy during the National Night Out kickoff block party Saturday at Bergfeld Park.

Nearly 400 people came to Bergfeld Park Saturday for a citywide National Night Out kickoff block party, hosted by the city of Tyler in conjunction with the Tyler fire and police departments.

The event boasted 60 vendor booths, food trucks, a dunking booth, dog adoptions and free cotton candy, among other activities.

National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that brings neighbors and police officers together under positive circumstances.

Community Response Officer Kerri Long, with the Tyler Police Department, said people don’t have to encounter officers only while they’re on duty.

“This [event] just gets us out there,” Long said.



“Yes, I’m Officer Long, but I am Kerri Long. I’m a normal person. I want to talk to the people and say, ‘Hey, we’re here.’”

This year the campaign will be celebrated in Tyler on Oct. 1. Local organizations, businesses and community members are encouraged to host block parties all over the city with the goal of strengthening police-community partnerships.