Thursday, October 1, 2026
The Lynbrook Police Department joined law enforcement agencies, first responders and community organizations from across the area for the Nassau County Police Department’s 5th Precinct National Night Out, giving officers another opportunity to connect with the families they serve.
Held in the parking lot across from St. Boniface Church in Elmont, the annual event brought together police departments, firefighters, EMTs, sanitation workers, elected officials, businesses, community organizations and residents for an evening focused on strengthening relationships between law enforcement and the public.
Lynbrook Police Chief Brian Paladino said events like National Night Out give officers a chance to meet children and families outside of the situations in which residents would typically encounter police.
“I’ve done events like this, and it’s just excellent getting the kids out in the community, having a back and forth with them, and showing them that police are not someone to be afraid of,” Paladino said. “We’re helpers in the community, and we’re a friend.”
The 5th Precinct serves North Lynbrook, along with North Valley Stream, Valley Stream, West Hempstead, Franklin Square, Lakeview, Garden City South, Malverne Park, Malverne Oaks, Elmont and South Floral Park.
National Night Out is celebrated annually on the first Tuesday in August and aims to strengthen relationships between law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve.
“I believe that the police department cannot do our job to the best of our abilities without having a relationship with the community, because ultimately we work together to make our communities safer and better for everybody,” 5th Precinct Officer Angelica Caggiano said.
Caggiano is a problem-oriented police officer, or “POP” officer, meaning she serves as a liaison between the police department and the community.
Both the 5th Precinct and the Lynbrook Police Department made a point of engaging with younger attendees throughout the event. Children and their families played cornhole for police-themed prizes at Lynbrook’s booth and met officers while learning more about the role law enforcement plays in their communities.
Guests also had the opportunity to sit inside firetrucks and a sanitation truck, meet Sparky the Fire Dog — the mascot of the National Fire Protection Association — and see NCPD police horses while speaking with the officers riding them.
Local elected officials attended the event as well, including Nassau County Legislators Carrié Solages and Cynthia Nuñez, whose office participated in National Night Out for the third consecutive year.
For Solages, whose father was a police officer, supporting law enforcement is personal.
“I was inspired to support this because I’m the son of a police officer and I know firsthand the role that public officers play in our community, a very important role,” Solages said. “I think, especially this year, in light of the police officer who died on her way to work to serve this community, it’s important for our community to say ‘thank you’ to our police officers.”
Solages was referring to Officer Patricia Espinosa, an NCPD 5th Precinct officer who was killed by a drunken driver in January.
Nuñez emphasized the importance of giving residents opportunities to interact with officers outside of emergencies.
“Law enforcement is a gateway to not only our safety and our first responders, but just a level of interaction that people have been yearning for quite some time,” Nuñez said. “It’s good to know that not only do we have them there when we need them for emergencies, but they’re one of us. They’re amongst us. They live in our neighborhoods. They’re our neighbors.”
The St. Boniface Knights of Columbus was among the community organizations sharing information at the event. Member Bill Kurrus said residents should remember the sacrifices officers make when emergencies strike.
“I want to remind people that when there’s a calamity, a disaster percolating, for example, a blizzard, we’re all tucking our children in bed, and we’re staying with the family to make sure that there’s food and they’re safe, and we’re watching over them,” Kurrus said. “These police officers are kissing their family’s goodbye and going out to protect us. I think that has to be constantly repeated to the community that they sacrifice while watching over us, and we should never take them for granted.”
For Paladino, the evening showed what National Night Out is intended to accomplish — bringing officers and residents together in a relaxed setting and allowing families to get to know the people behind the badge.
“It’s been nothing but smiles on everyone’s faces,” Paladino said.
