Northeast Queens Turns Out for 111th Precinct's Night Out Against Crime

Northeast Queens residents turned out in droves to the 111th Precinct’s Night Out Against Crime on Tuesday evening.

The annual event, which was held in front of Modell’s at the Douglaston Shopping Plaza, included food, games, VIN etching, crime prevention tips, a D.J. and raffles.

But Gary Poggiali, a spokesman for the precinct, said the focus of the event was to introduce the community to its local police officers.

“It brings people together and shows that we don’t just write tickets,” he said. “A lot of the businesses show up and it draws a nice mixture of kids and older people.”

A number of local civic groups and organizations – including the Little Neck Douglaston Lions Club and the local ambulance corps -  and businesses – such as Movie World and several local banks – set up booths during the Night Out.

Carolyn Meenan, president of the Lions Club, said the event was one of the bigger ones throughout the year in the community.

“It’s a fun event,” she said. “People can get together with their neighbors and talk.”

The national Night Out Against Crime started 30 years ago as a way for local communities to fight back against then-rampant crime rates.

But Jack Fried, president of the 111th Precinct Community Council, said the event is now more of a means for people to meet and greet local law enforcement.

“We’re showing people we can fight crime together,” he said. “It’s a way people can meet their local cops.”