By Reed Williams
Media General News Service

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Police officers and residents gathered for parties throughout the Richmond region yesterday, enjoying hot dogs, snow cones and general community togetherness for National Night Out.

In Chesterfield County, 130 block parties were registered for residents and officers yesterday, and 57 events were scheduled in Henrico County, 48 in Hanover County and a dozen in Petersburg.

Chesterfield residents and law-enforcement officers got together at the Bensley Community Center off Drewry’s Bluff Road, where speakers included county Police Chief Thierry G. Dupius and Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob McDonnell.

Chesterfield Sheriff Dennis L. Proffitt said he believes that more residents support National Night Out each year.

“Public safety — it’s a joint effort,” Proffitt said. “It takes everybody.”

As many as 800 people visited a party at Southwood Apartments off Hull Street Road in South Richmond, said Geronimo Aguilar, a pastor for the Richmond Outreach Center, also known as ROC.

ROC’s band blasted “Sweet Child O’ Mine” by Guns N’ Roses, and dancers performed to “Boom Boom Pow” by the Black Eyed Peas.
Children enjoyed face painting, ice cream, snow cones, and a multicolored “bounce house” that was full of children jumping up and down with all their might.

“It’s a great relationship builder for Southwood and the police department,” Aguilar said. It “lets residents know the cops are here to help them. “We’ve seen great results.”

Reed Williams is a staff writer at the Richmond Times-Dispatch.