Staff photo / Renee Fox Abbey Boylen takes a photo of her nephew Niko Nittoli after the boy’s grandfather, Truman Boylen, lifted him up into the Liberty firetruck. Truman Boylen retired in 2005 after spending 25 years as a Liberty firefighter. In addition to police demonstrations and fun activities, the fire department showed off its engines at Tuesday’s National Night Out event.

LIBERTY — There was a solid turnout of support Tuesday evening at the National Night Out celebration Liberty police Chief Toby Meloro organized.

Police officers mingled in a crowd as music played, police dog demonstrations were held, food was served, faces were painted and firetrucks were explored by toddlers. Liberty High School provided performances from the marching band, ribbon twirlers and others.

A parade kicked off the event, an event expected to grow in subsequent years after seeing such a big turnout, said officer Jim Marco, who also serves as public information officer for the department.

National Night Out is a community-building campaign held in towns with police departments across the country, meant to strengthen the relationships between officers and members of the public they serve.

“National Night Out enhances the relationship between neighbors and law enforcement while bringing back a true sense of community. Furthermore, it provides a great opportunity to bring police and neighbors together under positive circumstances,” according to the NNO website.

Marco, who spoke for some time with residents about their experiences with law enforcement, said it is important to have interactions with the public that are positive. He said National Night Out presents an opportunity for residents to ask questions and learn how the officers operate and to provide feedback to the department, without the usual, more tense circumstances that can precede many police interactions.

“This is an excellent way for the community, law enforcement and safety services to interact in a positive light — school, music, food, fun — these are positive things. Those that are unsure about law enforcement can come out and meet us,” Marco said. “When we put the community first and come together as a whole, we are Liberty strong.”

Meloro said hosting the night out is a part of his broader approach to policing in the township.

During a speech at the event, he said the community is like a large organization with many working parts that need to come together to make the township as a whole function.

National Night Out isn’t just about getting together for food and fun, but about working together and keeping “Liberty strong,” Meloro said.

In addition to other events like meet-and-greets over coffee, Meloro said community policing is built into the department’s every day approach.

“Our police officers know we have to build relationships with the community. When they go into the neighborhoods, they stop and talk to people, for a friendly conversation — about baseball or football or whatever. We’re working to build something here, it just take some time and some effort,” Meloro said.

Meloro said he is also making strides toward staffing the department in a way that reflects the population of the township, adding a black woman to the staff in the last year, he said.

Vienna and Austintown officials also hosted National Night Out events.