The Johnston Police Department again raised the bar for Tuesday’s National Night Out. So much so that Mayor Joseph Polisena called Johnston’s 17th annual celebration “a great night that once again brought the community together.”
Polisena, who was accompanied by his wife Lucy and walked all around Johnston War Memorial Park greeting and talking with people, added, “It’s also a great opportunity for our police department to mingle with seniors who have the police’s ears.”
Veteran Police Chief Richard S. Tamburini said, “This National Night Out is the largest crime prevention event of its kind in the country. Here in Johnston, it’s people working together, making a difference. These seniors are our eyes and ears in neighborhoods that we are sworn to protect and serve 24/7.”
In the middle of Tuesday’s fun and food-filled celebration was Marie Conti, who heads the JPD’s Community Policing-sponsored Walk with Cops on Thursday mornings inside Johnston War Memorial Park. Conti, in fact, was nonstop throughout Tuesday night’s event, making sure there was enough food for the volunteer servers she coordinated and doing so with her special smile that is a familiar sight to the many seniors and their families who took in Johnston’s NNO.
“Marie always puts in a lot of hard work into the event and ensures everyone is made to feel welcome,” Major Joseph Razza said. “We had another great NNO and we enjoy coming together and connecting with the community at this great event. We see a lot of faithful faces and some new ones, too.”
The JPD Major, like Polisena and Tamburini, wanted it known that “we really appreciate all the special help that we receive from our volunteers and long-time supporters.”
He touted several JPD officers as well as sending a huge thank you to David Izzo and Ray Daquilla for “their overall assistance, most especially their grilling talents.” Razza also praised Capt. Richard Norato, Sgt. Luca Lancellotti and Patrolmen Chuck Psilopoulos and Jeff Chiccitelli who also did a great job manning the propane gas grills and organizing the entire event.
Psilopoulos has been a mainstay in the JPD’s NNO ongoing success, not only for cooking 300 hamburgers and as many hot dogs and turning 40 pounds of sausage into the always-popular sausage and peppers sandwiches, he also works hard securing donations that make the event an unmatched success.
Tuesday night, though, was particularly special for Psilopoulos, who was ably assisted by his son Michael, an up-and-coming chef who did everything from help his father keep the hot dogs and hamburgers ready to grill to offer a helping hand wherever he was needed.
Likewise, there is another group of young people, the members of the Johnston Police Explorers Post 405, who Polisena, Tamburini, Razza and Conti concurred “once again helped make National Night Out an overwhelming success.”
“They filled the water coolers,” Razza began, while complimenting Major Tom Dolan, who coordinates the Explorers Post with Lt. Steve Guilmette and Advisor Terry Best for their help with NNO. “They carried the grilled food to volunteer servers and made sure no one in line had a wait.”
In keeping with tradition, the NNO celebration included entertainment and, as he has done in previous years, Tony Cerbo – a Johnstonian who has performed in Boston, New York and Las Vegas singing songs made famous by icons Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr. – the crowd truly enjoyed his talents and smooth sound while enjoying an early evening summer dinner.
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