National Night Out
Area police forces reach out to publicBy KAYLEIGH KARUTIS, The Leader-Herald
Article Photos
GLOVERSVILLE - City and county police agencies joined together at the first National Night Out event in the city Tuesday, and it was a small but successful affair, officials said.
Gloversville Police Department Detective Michael Jory said his department was pleased with the outpouring of support from the community and plans to make next year bigger and better.
Similar events took place across the country, including one in Amsterdam, and are billed as a way to establish a good relationship between children, the community and law enforcement.
Jory organized the event, which featured drug-sniffing dog Mocha from the Fulton County Sheriff's Department, a static display of police equipment, fingerprinting and ID-making for children, the Fulton County Ambulance Service, free food, a bouncy house, a bike auction and music by Small Town Sound.
A number of city officials, including city clerk Brenda Pedrick and Mayor Tim Hughes, donated food and drinks for the event. Price Chopper also donated food, Jory said.
Michele Patterson of Gloversville brought her son, Zachery Leveille, to the event to be fingerprinted and to have an identification card made. The information is kept on file in case Zachery goes missing, Patterson said.
"I think it's a great thing [to have this event in Gloversville]," she said.
Gloversville resident Zoe Horton, 12, agreed. She enjoyed ice cream with sprinkles while several other children in her YWCA day-care class threw softballs at the dunk tank.
Gloversville Middle School Principal Jim Christopher was the willing victim sitting above the tank.
"It was really fun," Horton said of the event.
She said she liked Mocha, a 5-year-old narcotic-sniffing Labrador, the most.
"That was really cool," she said of the dog. "He's cute."
Jonathan Morrison said he was picking his three children up from day care when they saw the event and wanted to go.
"I think it's nice that they're having something like this in the city," he said. "[One of my children] just did the fingerprinting."
Capt. James Lorenzoni said he hopes the event will act as an early deterrent for future bad behavior. He credited Jory with organizing the event and said it gives city children positive exposure to local law enforcement.
"Something like this [event] can have a positive impact on lowering future crime rates [and] drop out rates in school," he said. "Anything that gets the community involved is a positive thing."
Kayleigh Karutis covers Gloversville news. She can be reached at gloversville@leaderherald.com
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resident69
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08-06-09 9:20 PM
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Bill Lair, I know that... that's why I had the second statement. Knowing some of the kids parents if the Police had their finger prints they'd solve some crimes faster LOL. It's a good program
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BillLair
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08-06-09 5:01 PM
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resident 69: The kids fingerprints used against them later? I seriously doubt it. The fingerprints taken at events like this are kept by the parents, not the law enforcement agency. Nice job by Detective Jory and all the rest of those involved in putting it together.
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cruella
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08-06-09 4:10 PM
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Mayor Hughes and Clerk Brenda How nice! OH yah! It`s election time, I forgot. Got to make those points! I hear mayor has as alot of irons in the fire these days. Wake up Brenda!!! Hello!!!
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Adirondackal
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08-05-09 4:59 PM
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A special thank you to Detective Jory for all of his efforts.
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reader
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08-05-09 3:44 PM
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Great event! Thanks to all involved.
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Preacher
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08-05-09 2:38 PM
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I expect to see racingman on the ballot to run for mayor in the fall. After all, if racingman believes this he/sheshould run for office and put a stop to all of this community involvement stuff.
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repunzel
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08-05-09 1:56 PM
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Earth to racingman, come in racingman. Head injuried from a crash ? This was a great community event ! Hats off to all involved !
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Rinner
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08-05-09 1:01 PM
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I think this was a wonderful event for the community and local city/school district personel to come together in a relaxed setting. Great job everyone-especially Principal Christopher for taking one for the team while being active w/ the community. I only wish I was there to dunk him.
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racingman
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08-05-09 12:34 PM
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what a waste of money the only reason anybody showed up was to get free food. It was the fourth of the month and most of gloversville's finest were broke. Why have a bike auction if the police do their jobs the correct way they would have the stolen bikes returned to their owners.
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resident69
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08-05-09 11:38 AM
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What's great about fingerprinting the kids is they could be used later against them. It's good in case they (Hopefully don't) go missing!
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