Any time the men and women associated with our local law enforcement agencies and other public safety institutions can get out into the general community and meet with those they are charged with protecting is an occasion worth noting.
Last week, in observance of National Night Out, all of the law enforcement agencies operating in Harford County had their people at several events around the county, including at the Target store in Bel Air and two neighborhoods in Havre de Grace, among other locations.
The activities were well-attended by folks of all ages, but in particular by many of our younger residents. And, let's face it, while police-community relations are generally strong in Harford County, and always have been, that's not necessarily the case around the United States these days.
A big reason we believe law enforcement and the community in Harford County retain strong bonds is easy to see every day. Most of our local police officers live in the community. They're our neighbors, our friends, our rec league coaches, our fellow church-goers, in addition to being our protectors.
There's a strong correlation between good policing and community support. It's clear Harford County has both in abundance, as the local National Night Out events clearly demonstrated.