Hundreds Attend Asbury Park’s National Night Out

Asbury Park

Hundreds Attend Asbury Park’s National Night Out

Family event featured bicycle and gift card giveways, free food & games

By Michelle Gladden

An estimated 500 residents turned out for Tuesday night’s National Night Out event hosted by the City and the Asbury Park Police Department.

“I think it’s one our most attended [Night Out] events in recent years, Police Department head Deputy Chief David Kelso said.

Masters of ceremony was Pastor Lyddale Akins of Triumphant Life Church and the police department’s own Sgt. Terry Williams.

State, County and local officials turned out in support of the community unifying event meant to build law enforcement relationships with the residents they serve. They included the City Council, Congressman Frank Pallone, Freeholder Tom Arnone, Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden and Monmouth County Clerk Christine Giordano Hanlon.

And while the national campaign launched 34 years ago, the city has been hosting the first Tuesday in August event for close to 20 years.

The city’s municipal lot was transformed into a cross between a block party and fair ground with bouncing castles, music, a petting zoo and donkey ride, face painting, free fair food, and an array of community support vendors.

Giveaways included six $50 senior gift cards, 10 children’s bikes, eight $25 gift cards, and array of vendor giveaways.

The event proved bittersweet as the community recognized retiring Sgt. Terry Williams who leaves the department after 20 years of service.

Williams, a Neptune native who graduated from Asbury Park High School, is known for his volunteer work with the the city’s seniors, the department’s summer boot camp program and police cadet mentorship program, which works with children 10 to 14. Through the years they’ve brought the youth to an array of restaurants, to Sandy Hook and administered dietary and nutrition awareness programs.

Mayor John Moor presented Williams with a proclamation.

“I cannot thank Terry enough,” the mayor said before recognizing the city volunteers and youth worked behind the scenes to make the event a success. “Terry is leaving us and he’s going to be big shoes to fill.”

Assembly representatives Eric Houghtaling and Joann Downey [D-11] gave the Williams an award recognizing the entire department. Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher Gramiccioni also thanked him for his 25-year-long law enforcement career.

“I’m so sad to say that this good man is hanging up his cleats,” he said.

The upbeat event had a somber moment as Gramiccioni made a plea for the public’s help in solving three of the city’s unsolved homicides since 1963.

“As great and wonderful as this town is there’s a little bit of blemish in that there are some unsolved homicides that the Asbury Park Police and my department are working hard to solve,” he said. “I need your help.”

They include the Christmas Eve 2007 murder of Cesar Torralba, a 35-year-old robbery victim who was fatally shot along Sixth Avenue; the Dec. 2016 murder of Dexter Dunston, 32, that occurred along the sidewalk in the 700 block of Third Avenue; and Quianna Dees, the 12-year-old girl who was shot in the head 25 years ago and left to die in a lot on Washington Avenue. Each year the community and family traces what is believed to be the young girl’s final steps in support of ending gun violence and helping officials solve the cold case.

“We never truly have a cold case,” Gramiccioni said. “We are always looking at them. I need your help, I want to solve these.”