Emergency responders from several agencies in Newark turned out to greet residents at the annual event.
NEWARK -- As a kid growing up in the city, Newark Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose had to go to the country to see a horse.
But on Tuesday afternoon, children from across the Brick City gathered at Newark Schools Stadium for the department's National Night Out event, to not only pet the mounted officer's horses, but to meet with and show support for the region's emergency responders.
Dozens of police departments across the Garden State are currently hosting events for National Night Out, an annual community-building campaign to allow for police to interact with the people they serve, and vice versa.
Ambrose said in Newark, about 50 people from multiple agencies came out for the event, which drew at least a hundred people and ends at 8 p.m.
National Night Out in Jersey City
Kids could be seen playing on the football field, getting their faces painted and dunking 15-year-old Olger Montero -- who is in the department's Explorer mentoring program -- into a tank of water.
The event has changed over the years since its creation in 1984, Matt Peskin, executive director of the National Association of Town Watch, said in a previous interview with NJ Advance Media.
In the mid-1980s, Peskin said, the event changed from encouraging people to turn on their porch lights as a symbol of a "vote against crime in response to the rising crime rates in the early '80s," to more of a community forum.
Ambrose, a former Newark cop who has been partaking in National Night Out since its creation, said the gathering is now a way for departments to tell citizens about their programs and show off their equipment. For Newark, this year's event also includes fire personnel and those in the Office of Emergency Management.
U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman, Mayor Ras Baraka and at least four members of Newark's City Council were also at the event.
Cops: In wake of police killings, National Night Out takes on new importance
As for Newark City Council President Mildred Crump, who brought her 3-year-old and 5-year-old grandchildren, she could be seen dancing to pop music before Newark cop Tommy Scala sang the National Anthem.
"We call him the singing police officer," Crump said with an ice cream cone in hand.
At one of about a dozen tables, the Rev. Bryant Ali, of the New Psalmist Worship Center in Newark, handed out child-safety locks for citizens to put on their legally-owned pistols.
"It's a preventative measure that saves lives," the 57-year-old pastor said, mentioning the recent East Orange case where a 5-year-old accidentally shot and killed his 4-year-old brother.
This was the first National Night Out for Ali, who mid-way through the day said the event is a simple way to get people to know their neighbors.
National Night Out in Cherry Hill
"With all that's going on across the land, this is a good opportunity to interact with the human side of law enforcement and politicians," he said.
Talking into a microphone, Fishman said his 14-year-old son, who he brought to the gathering, asked if these events really change anything. Yes, Fishman said he told his son, they do, and they matter to the emergency responders mingling with the people they serve.
"If one relationship comes out of this event, then it made a difference," Fishman said.
In Keyport, a street was closed off for a street party including a bounce house, barbecue and conversation among neighbors and police.
For Chief of Police Butch Casaletto, the annual get-together between police and the community took on special significance in the wake of the fatal shootings of police officers in Baton Rouge and Dallas.
"It's pretty disheartening when people feel police don't want to protect them," he said.
Still, the evening was mostly about fun.
"Hamlet," a miniature pony whose head is emblazoned with a question mark-shaped spot, was recognized for his service to the community with a badge. The horse works with the children of fallen soldiers and served as a "liaison" between shy kids and police Tuesday.
"It opens doors for kids to talk to the officers," said Laurie Cabot, Hamlet's owner.
In Perth Amboy, hundreds gathered at a football field, salsa music pumping from speakers as kids posed for pictures in city police cars.
Deputy Chief Lawrence Cattano said building bridges with the community isn't merely a one-day-a-year event, noting that cops were handing out water to kids in the park during last week's withering heat.
Mayor Wilda Diaz concurred, noting that the kids helped cook hot dogs with the officers, adding that Tuesday's festivities were the first time a lot of children ever have even had a conversation with an officer.
"They're their friends," she said.
Kate Mishkin contributed to this report
Luke Nozicka may be reached at lnozicka@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @lukenozicka. Find NJ.com on Facebook.