National Night Out comes to Leavenworth

LEAVENWORTH – Chelan County Sheriff’s Office organized Leavenworth’s first National Night Out on Aug. 6 at Icicle River Middle School.

“We just want to show the community that we are of the people, for the people. It's our motto, and we want to give an opportunity to interact with us and just know that their Sheriff's Office is here,” said Sheriff Mike Morrison.

National Night Out events have historically been held in Wenatchee, but the event has made its way into smaller towns in recent years. In 2022, National Night Out was hosted in Cashmere, then in Entiat in 2023. 

“We understand too, like for our smaller communities, they don't always want to drive all the way down there, so we do our best…We want to allow them to come in and check it out and see what we have, what we do,” said Morrison.

The event also hosted Fire District #3, Cascade Medical’s ambulance department, Chelan-Douglas Health District, and the Washington Traffic Safety Commission.

“[They] just get to see what there is to offer, what our small, little community can do for them in their time of need,” said Erin Adams, Medical Supervising Officer at Cascade Medical. “We are all a big, giant team, and we're all here to work together.”

Attendees got a first-hand look at the Sheriff’s Office helicopter and jet skis, FD #3’s fire truck, and Cascade Medical’s ambulance. Over the course of the evening, the community had a chance to learn about emergency preparedness from Chelan-Douglas Health District, learn proper booster seat uses from the Washington Traffic Safety Commission, and speak directly with local first responders. 

“We've had people bring us issues they've had, so we can write down what to remember and deal with it later. It's just a chance to meet community members and have positive interaction with them,” said Seth Buhler, Chief of Patrol.

The evening was also a learning opportunity for a local citizenship class, which attended with coordinator Norma Gallegos.

“This is a great event…This is the first time they've been involved with anything that involves the sheriff’s department…[They had] no idea that you had 60 deputies, no idea that you had behavioral health, no idea what a chaplain does. So already, from what you said in five minutes, you’re covering the Spanish population that has been here for 30-plus years,” said Gallegos.

National Night Out is a community-building campaign intended to build relationships between communities and their local police departments. The annual event is typically held on the first Tuesday in August and is hosted in communities throughout all 50 states, U.S. territories, and military bases. 

Taylor Caldwell: 509-433-7276 or taylor@ward.media