HOUSTON – Oct. 3, 2019 – The front of Westfield High School buzzed with excitement and sirens on Tuesday evening as families and law enforcement officers gathered for Spring ISD Police Department’s sixth annual National Night Out event.
As the event kicked off, Spring ISD PD Chief of Police Kenneth Culbreath gathered around a large crowd of about 250 students, parents and community partners to thank everyone for their support.
“On behalf of the school district, I want to say thank you,” Culbreath told the crowd. “Over the last 30 years, National Night Out has touched communities across this country. We want to say thank you for showing up, and partnering with us as we try to foster positive relationships with our community and our students.”
More than 45 district business partners, school organizations and area emergency responders displayed booths in the parking lot, including Harris County Constable 4, Cypress Creek EMS, Boy Scouts of America, Chick-Fil-A and the Ponderosa Fire Department, which opened up their fire truck for children to explore.
“The purpose of National Night Out is for the community to come together and celebrate all that our police officers and first responders for all that they do to promote safety among our students, district and our community,” said Spring ISD Parent Engagement Director Tranita Carrol. “This is our night for everyone to really get to engage with our police officers and see the great work that they’re doing in our district and out in the community.”
A few highlights of the night included a special performance by Westfield High School Lariettes Drill Team, and a voter-registration booth sponsored by Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and assisted by Spring ISD Board member Justine Durant. Attendees also witnessed the landing of the Texas Department of Public Safety’s police helicopter, where troopers allowed children to ask questions and inspect the aircraft once on the ground.
Tylor Nix, a senior at Carl Wunsche High School and a member of the Wunsche Criminal Justice Program, says his future ambition after graduation is to go into the Marines and eventually into law enforcement.
“National Night Out is a good way to get everyone out to see the different area public agencies and show how students volunteer and come together as a community,” said Nix. “I’ve always had a passion to become an officer.”