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National Night Out moving to new spot

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JANESVILLE — Drug-sniffing dogs.

A display of confiscated drugs.

Informational materials from the Elks Club’s drug awareness trailer.

If you haven’t figured it out yet, drug prevention is the emphasis of this year’s National Night Out on Tuesday, Aug. 5, said Sgt. Brian Donohoue.

But it also more.

“It is to establish better contact with the police department employees’ functions and the community,’’ Police Chief Neil Mahan said.

And the easiest way to do that is to have the event for the first time at police headquarters, 100 N. Jackson St. More than 25 officers have been assigned to attend, and additional officers will be coming in and out, he said.

This is more than five times the number of officers attending in past years, officer Chad Sullivan said.

“By having more officers present, you break down the scariness and interact—which hopefully will have a long-lasting impact,’’ Sullivan said.

Demonstrations include:

n Taser, from 6:30 to 6:50 p.m.—Officers will demonstrate the use of the electroshock weapons they use to subdue suspects.

n K-9, from 6:50 to 7:10 p.m.—Citizens will get to meet the department’s two police dogs—Hardy and Karo—and their handlers, Janesville police officers Shaun Mahaffey and Glen Hageman.

“(The dogs) are a huge tool in fighting crime, especially against drugs and in regards to finding missing people,’’ Sullivan said.

n SWAT Team, from 7:10 to 7:30 p.m.—The Special Weapons And Tactics team will demonstrate the use of less-lethal weapons like a pepper ball gun, beanbag rounds shot out of a gun and flash bangs, which are used as a distraction device to enter a home.

“This will be very interactive and show how they handle different situations,’’ Sullivan said.

SWAT members also will display special equipment and allow kids to put on their bulletproof vests and helmets and get their picture taken if they want.

Because National Night Out’s primary focus is crime prevention, Mahan said there would be different messages, and booths that will speak to those messages. These include child identification and neighborhood watch information.

There will be kids games, face painting, jump machines, a dunk tank, free food and drinks.

“Officers are always looking to have positive contact with community members. That’s what this event is,’’ Mahan said.

IF YOU GO

Who: Janesville Police Department.

What: National Night Out.

When: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Aug 5.

Where: The Janesville Police Department, 100 N. Jackson St.

Admission: Free.

Parking: Free in nearby city parking lots and on side streets. Laurel Avenue to West Milwaukee Street plus Wall and Franklin streets will be blocked off.