LIVING

Breaking Bread ... with the 5-0

Posted Sunday, August 25, 2019 9:45 pm

Yvonne Cerque paints a flower on Tatiana Small’s face during National Night Out, a nationwide community-building event for police precincts. The 5-0 held its event on West 234th Street between Bailey Avenue and Broadway.

EIAN KANTOR

Capt. Emilio Melendez hands out burgers and hot dogs to attendee’s of the 50th Precinct’s National Night Out on West 234th Street between Bailey Avenue and Broadway.

EIAN KANTOR

A jester on stilts and wheels entertains the crowd during the 50th Precinct’s National Night Out event.

EIAN KANTOR

Capt. Emilio Melendez places a hot dog with mustard on a plate for an attendee of the 50th Precinct’s National Night Out event.

EIAN KANTOR

Officer John Labianca smiles and waves while on soda duty during the 50th Precinct’s National Night Out event on West 234th Street between Bailey Avenue and Broadway.

EIAN KANTOR

Children line up to receive tote bags, while others wait to get inside the bounce house, during the 50th Precint’s National Night Out event.

EIAN KANTOR

Yvonne Cerque smiles as she holds a mirror up for Gabriella Gomez who looks at her painted floral face during the 50th Precint’s National Night Out event.

EIAN KANTOR

Officer Klaudio Rroku prepares to grill hot dogs for the 50th Precinct’s National Night Out event.

Officer Brian Iacovides grills hamburgers for the 50th Precinct’s National Night Out event.

People wait to hear if their raffle number is called during the 50th Precinct’s National Night Out Event.

EIAN KANTOR

It was a hot day for hot dogs, but that didn’t stop hundreds of community members from feasting on the barbecue stylings of the 50th Precinct.

Like every year since 1984, the first Tuesday in August marked National Night Out, a nationwide community-building event between police officers and the people they have sworn to protect. Under the purview of top cop Capt. Emilio Melendez, the 5-0 set up shop on West 234th Street between Bailey Avenue and Broadway with a range of activities and good eats for the wider community.

For Melendez, a 30-year veteran of the New York Police Department, it was his first National Night Out in the 5-0 after replacing Deputy Inspector Terence O’Toole late last year. Melendez greeted children, families and local elected officials alike on a balmy late summer day as he and his officers served up burgers and other grilled fare.

Children darted from activity to activity — face painting, bouncing in an inflatable house, arts and crafts. Families waited with bated breath as raffle numbers were called out. Electeds joined the fray to meet constituents.

Above all else, it was a day for the community to get to know the police, and vice versa, as they noshed on tasty treats.

Keywords

50th Precinct, NYPD, New York Police Department, Emilio Melendez, National Night Out, Terence O'Toole,

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Breaking Bread ... with the 5-0

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