A fine night out

Wearing her Fond du Lac "K9 Kaylee" shirt, Ahlae Lu Leveille and her mom came to Tuesday's National Night Out event in the hopes of seeing a police dog. Ahlae Lu is a huge fan, and even thinks she might like to be a K-9 officer someday.

Better than just a formal introduction, the 9-year-old even got a few kisses from Vader, the Cloquet police department's newest K-9 officer. The black British Labrador Retriever is not terribly intimidating, but rather exudes enthusiasm.

"A black Lab, of all things," chuckled her mom, Lisa. "We expected to see a German Shepherd."

While National Night Out started in 1984 as a way to bring neighborhoods and local law enforcement together, in Cloquet and other Carlton County communities, it's about bringing the entire community and public safety officials together under positive circumstances. Either way, the idea is the same: helping neighbors meet, improving relations and making an experience less traumatic when police and citizens meet under more urgent circumstances.

About halfway across the park, a different crowd gathered around two volunteer members of the Carlton County Mounted Posse, sitting astride their horses, answering more questions as people petted the animals and even tried feeding them Ruffles potato chips.

The horses weren't huge fans of that particular type of potato chip.

"They really like peppermints," said Amy Suliin, who was riding her horse, Royal, while Ashley Frones was riding Elliot, who likes Craisins.

"I've lived here all my life and this is the first time I found out Carlton County has horses," said Cloquet's Lee Lavamaki.

Acting police chief Carrey Ferrell estimated 1,700 and 2,000 people were spread out across the Veterans Park from the bounce houses dotted around the field, to the food and games by the picnic shelter, to hockey and a parking lot bike rodeo.

Ferrell said it made him feel proud to see all the people there. He also likes the way people and law enforcement get to interact for the occasion.

"Most of the time, when people interact with police, they're at a low point," he said. "This way they get to see us in a different light. See that we're human. And when we're not in full uniform, that's a little less intimidating too."

He remembered the first time the CPD held the event at Veterans Park, pointing to the corner of the shelter where he grilled all the hot dogs and hamburgers on two Weber grills. This year they ordered 1,800 hot dogs and borrowed a massive grill from B&B grill cook them all. They still ran out.

Ferrell said the now annual event couldn't happen without community support.

"It still costs a lot to put on, but we couldn't do it without donations and the community's help and support," he said. "From cash, products and gifts for prizes, we get a lot of donations."

Chris Durfee, a Fond du Lac police officer, was chatting with his son and fellow officer, Brad, and Ben LaFave of the CPD as they stood by an FDL police side-by-side UTV, used for powwows and public events as well as search and rescues. The UTV was part of a line of police vehicles on display.

"We're fortunate here," said the elder Durfee. "We really are part of the community as police."

That positive feeling seemed to repeat across the park.

"I'm enjoying it," said Lavamaki, over by the horses. "It's nice to get out in the community that we live in."