PHOTOS: The 78th Precinct’s National Night Out at J.J. Byrne Park

In case you missed it, officers from the NYPD’s 78th Precinct and Park Slope residents came together to celebrate and strengthen their relationship during National Night Out on Tuesday night on Fifth Avenue.

National Night Out is an that brings police and community members together to promote local crime prevention and strengthen relationships between civilians and police officers.

At 6 p.m. in front of J.J. Byrne Park, between Third and Fourth streets, the celebration included cops from the 78th Precinct, the 78th Precinct’s Auxiliary Officers, the Community Council, live salsa music by Sonido Costeno, a seven-piece band led by JuanMa Morales, free hot dogs and snow cones and appearances by Councilman Brad Lander and Assemblywoman Joan Millman.

The Commanding Officer of the 78th Precinct, Captain Michael Ameri, told Patch during the event that a good relationship with Park Slope residents is essential to his and his cops’ success in fighting crime throughout the neighborhood.

“The 78 has to have a partnership with the community to accomplish our mission and protect Park Slope,” Captain Ameri said. “Tonight is a night to strengthen our relationships.”

Ameri said , on Monday, July 30, may not have happened without the help from the victim and a “Good Samaritan” who held the crook until cops came to the scene.

“A lot of good arrests come out from being close with the community,” Ameri explained. “All the hard work that the good men and women of the 78 do can’t be done without our community.”

Millman gave Captain Ameri a plaque that stated her “deep appreciation” and recognition of Ameri’s and his precinct’s success with keeping the neighborhood safe.

“I am very fortunate to work with the good men and women of the 78th Precinct,” Millman told Patch.

While people were dancing to salsa music, eating, admiring the antique cars (including a polished 1971 Chevy Nova) and speaking with Captain Ameri and other police, Adrienne Hayes said that she was enjoying herself at NNO.

“It’s an excellent celebration. It’s a great opportunity for the community and police to mingle and get to know what everyone is doing and for the neighborhood to find out what resources are available,” Hayes said.

Pauline Blake, the president of the 78th Precinct’s Community Council — a non-partisan group that holds meetings with cops to solve local problems — said that Tuesday was a night was a night to remember.

“When we as a community can celebrate with our police and talk about how our neighborhood has improved, it’s a great day for Brooklyn,” Blake said. “Park Slope has improved 1,000 percent. We are almost on the verge of eliminating the drug dealers, almost completely eliminated prostitution and we have finally learned to live as neighbors regardless of race, creed and color.”

If you have pictures from National Night Out and want to share them with us you can upload them to this article or post them on Park Slope Patch’s Facebook page.