Residents across Durham gathered Tuesday evening for National Night Out events aimed at enhancing relationships between law enforcement and the communities they serve.
The Durham Police Department hosted its annual celebration outside its headquarters downtown, while 51 neighborhoods across the city held their own events featuring food, music, games and opportunities for residents to interact with officers outside of emergencies.
“It’s important for us to put the work in on the front end,” Durham Police Chief Stephanie Mardis said. “We don’t want to get to know the community right in the middle of a critical incident. We have to leverage those times where it’s relaxed and fun and in an inviting environment to create those relationships because it pays dividends.”…