‘Put a face with the officer’: Community, pig kisses highlight York’s National Night Out

York Police Lt. Dale Edward proudly wore the lipstick smears on his face from kissing the squealing, four-legged star of Tuesday’s National Night Out celebration in downtown York.

“It needed some eggs or grits,” Edwards said of kissing Buttercup the pig. “I’ve kissed a whole lot worse in my life.”

Participants in the downtown event each received a ticket, which they could place into the envelope corresponding with the officer they wanted to see kiss the pig. Edwards had 170 votes and Sgt. Allen Baker III had 177 votes, but someone put $20 in Edwards’ envelope.

The smooch with the swine was a new addition to York’s celebration of National Night Out, an annual community-building campaign celebrated nationally that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make communities safer places to live. A portion of North Roosevelt Street was closed down several hours Tuesday night.

“That’s our biggest issue,” Edwards said, pointing to a patrol car parked outside York police headquarters. “We don’t get out of the cars enough. This brings everybody here. It gives us a chance to mingle, and you get to talk to people one-on-one.”

Baker said fun community events such as Tuesday’s allow residents to “put a face with the officer.”

“It lets them know that we’re human,” he said. “It makes people less afraid to approach us. It humanizes us more.”

Included in the fun were a dunking booth, bounce houses, games, food and a backpack and school supply giveaway. Law enforcement provided crime prevention tips and safety information, and the S.C. Highway Patrol had a simulator to encourage seatbelt use by demonstrating to attendees what happens to an unrestrained body during a rollover collision.

Also attending Tuesday’s event in York were officers from police departments in Rock Hill and Tega Cay, as well as officers from Winthrop University and the York County Sheriff’s Office.

Stephanie Smith of McConnells brought her two children to Tuesday’s event, and said it means a lot to see law enforcement having a good time with the community.

“In today’s society, especially recently, the portrayal of cops has been bad,” she said. “When you bring them to an event like this, there are policemen out having fun, smiling and interacting with kids – it reminds the kids that they’re not bad.”

Different neighborhoods and organizations in Rock Hill hosted their own events around the city Tuesday night, and Rock Hill police said they planned to attend all 30 events.

This story was originally published August 4, 2015 at 10:38 PM with the headline "‘Put a face with the officer’: Community, pig kisses highlight York’s National Night Out."