Urbandale Police Crack Top 10, Win Award For Community Event

URBANDALE, IA — The Urbandale Police Department has been named a national award winner for its participation in the 2017 National Night Out event in August. The department has placed in the top 25 for participation for eight straight years and this year finished in the top 10 for the first time with a ranking of eighth place among communities of a similar size.

National Night Out is an annual event established to build interaction between police and residents and bring awareness to community safety and crime prevention. This was the event's 34th year. The Urbandale Police Department event included officers from the patrol, bicycle patrol and Suburban Emergency Response teams interacting with residents during the evening.

In addition to having patrol vehicles on display, there was a driving simulator, demonstrations with K-9 Luke, a police honor guard presentation, and a visit by McGruff the Crime Dog with the Iowa Crime Prevention Association.

As part of this year's event, the city dedicated Martin Field, the Walker Johnston Park soccer field adjacent to the police station. It is named for fallen Urbandale Police Officer Justin Martin and officials said at the ribbon cutting that it honors his service to the community and his commitment to sportsmanship, integrity and perseverance.

While National Night Out was created to promote law enforcement and crime prevention efforts, Urbandale expanded its event to include the city's fire department by having a ladder truck and ambulance on display, along with the Blank Children's Hospital fire safety house, and UnityPoint's Life Flight helicopter.

Urbandale also makes National Night Out a festival-type atmosphere with the addition of an inflatable slide, balloon animals, face painting, pedal cart races, a dunk tank, food, and games and prizes.

National Night Out is held the first Tuesday in August each year. The 35th annual event will be August 7, 2018.

Martin Field, the soccer field at Walker Johnston Park adjacent to the Urbandale Police Station, was dedicated at the National Night Out event on August 1, 2017./Urbandale Police Department photo