The Juneau Police Department organized participation in the National Night Out for all Juneau public services, including Capital City Fire/Rescue, the Alaska State Troopers, and other uniformed and nonuniformed public services, Aug. 6, 2019. (Michael S. Lockett | Juneau Empire)

The Juneau Police Department organized participation in the National Night Out for all Juneau public services, including Capital City Fire/Rescue, the Alaska State Troopers, and other uniformed and nonuniformed public services, Aug. 6, 2019. (Michael S. Lockett | Juneau Empire)

JPD and other first responders party during National Night Out

The community relations event lets citizens meet uniformed personnel in their neighborhoods

Juneau celebrated National Night Out in style on Tuesday as members of the Juneau Police Department, Capital City Fire/Rescue, Alaska State Troopers and other first responders visited block parties in 20 neighborhoods around Juneau.

“It’s all about connecting with the people when there’s not an emergency happening,” said Erann Kalwara, JPD public safety manager. “It’s a chance to make a more positive interaction.”

Members from different services split up into five groups with a mix of personnel, breaking up the assignments so every neighborhood hosting a party got coverage.

“The idea is to promote community relations with the first responders,” said Lt. Krag Campbell, JPD patrol lieutenant. “The idea is to meet members of the public in a low stress environment.”

Many of the personnel involved, Campbell said, don’t necessarily interact with the public unless something has gone very wrong with their lives. The idea behind National Night Out is to give the public a chance to meet public service personnel like Coast Guards members or correctional officers in a relaxed, non-crisis environment.

The Juneau Police Department organized participation in the National Night Out for all Juneau public services, including Capital City Fire/Rescue, the Alaska State Troopers, and other uniformed and nonuniformed public services, Aug. 6, 2019. (Michael S. Lockett | Juneau Empire)

The Juneau Police Department organized participation in the National Night Out for all Juneau public services, including Capital City Fire/Rescue, the Alaska State Troopers, and other uniformed and nonuniformed public services, Aug. 6, 2019. (Michael S. Lockett | Juneau Empire)

“It’s nice to have them stop by,” said Julie Coffin, who has hosted the National Night Out on her block for four years. Block parties ranged from restrained, with people quietly enjoying good food with neighbors, to louder and looser, with bounce houses and water balloon fights. Good weather helped, Campbell said, adding that the weather has been fortunate for a lot of these.

“It’s kind of nice to get to know them outside of an emergency,” Coffin said.

The public service personnel aren’t the only people getting together for the block party.

“You kind of get to know your surrounding neighbors,” Anna Hay said. Some of the parties had a dozen people but some had more than a hundred, with people coming from the surrounding streets with dogs and friends to grill and hang out.

The Juneau Police Department organized participation in the National Night Out for all Juneau public services, including Capital City Fire/Rescue, the Alaska State Troopers, and other uniformed and nonuniformed public services, Aug. 6, 2019. (Michael S. Lockett | Juneau Empire)

The Juneau Police Department organized participation in the National Night Out for all Juneau public services, including Capital City Fire/Rescue, the Alaska State Troopers, and other uniformed and nonuniformed public services, Aug. 6, 2019. (Michael S. Lockett | Juneau Empire)

The event is also a chance for kids and adults to get to see emergency vehicles they might not normally get to see in a non-emergency setting. Kids clambered up on fire trucks, sat in the back of cop cars, and explored Juneau’s new Mobile Incident Center, which made its National Night Out debut this year. Police officers, firefighters/EMTs and other emergency personnel answered questions about their jobs and gave out plastic fire hats and stickers.

“I love getting to do this,” said Donald Law, a volunteer firefighter.

And what’s the most popular vehicle?

“Just the fire truck,” laughed CCFR Assistant Chief Ed Quinto. “They always gravitate to the fire truck.”


• Contact reporter Michael S. Lockett at 523-2271 or mlockett@juneauempire.com.


More in News

Bob Girt works with the Alaska Youth Stewards on Prince of Wales Island in 2022. (Photo courtesy of Bethany Goodrich / Sustainable Southeast Partnership)
Threads of the Tongass: Building a sustainable future

“These students can look back and say, ‘I helped build that. I was a contributor.’”

KTOO, Juneau's public radio station, is photographed in Juneau, Alaska, on Friday, July 11, 2025. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)
Public radio facing cuts as Congress moves to pull back funding

KTOO could lose one-third of its budget if the House passes a bill cutting funding for the Corporation of Public Broadcasting

Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo
The Norwegian Bliss arrives in Juneau on Monday, April 14.
Ships in port for the week of July 19

This information comes from the Cruise Line Agencies of Alaska’s 2025 schedule.… Continue reading

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police calls for Thursday, July 17, 2025

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

Eaglecrest Ski Area. (Ben Hohenstatt | Juneau Empire File)
Hiker rescued from gully at Eaglecrest

The woman got stuck in a gully after taking a wrong turn

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police calls for Wednesday, July 16, 2025

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

The Dimond Courthouse in Juneau, Alaska, is seen in this undated photo. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire file)
Juneau man pleads guilty to murder of infant

James White pleaded guilty yesterday to the murder of 5-and-half-week-old Kathy White

U.S. Coast Guard Rear Admiral Megan Dean shakes hands with the new Arctic District commander Rear Admiral Bob Little on Friday. Vice Admiral Andrew J. Tiongson, commander of the Pacific Area, smiles. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
US Coast Guard receives new commander, new name for Alaska

The Arctic District’s new icebreaker will visit Juneau next month

City and Borough of Juneau City Hall is photographed on July 12, 2025, in Juneau, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Juneau Empire file)
Municipal election candidate filing period opens July 18

The filing period runs from July 18 at 8 a.m. to July 28 at 4:30 p.m.

Most Read