Police Department's First National Night Out At Veterans Park A Success

The teenager laughed as he adjusted the "Fatal Vision" goggles before he attempted to make his way through an obstacle course of neon-orange traffic cones.

But it wasn't as easy as he thought. The goggles are designed to mimic the effects of alcohol intoxication on vision.

The boy knocked over a couple of cones before he fell down in the grass.

"Don't drink and drive," Sgt. Peter Larocca told the youth. "This puts it in perspective."

The "Fatal Vision" goggles were just one of the attractions at the township's latest summer concert and the police department's first National Night Out Against Crime at Veterans Park last night.

The traditional date for National Night Out across the United States is the first Tuesday in August. But Mayor Carmen F. Amato Jr. and Police Chief Karin T. DiMichele decided to take advantage of the summer concert series and hold it the same night, DiMichele said.

"We wanted a capacity crowd for our first time out," DiMichele said.

The crowd at Veterans Park wasn't as big as usual for a summer concert, probably due to the county's ongoing reconstruction of Veterans Boulevard. Only the eastbound lane is open until the roadwork is finished, so visitors had to detour to get to the park.

"I wanted Berkeley to participate in National Night Out," said Amato, who was sworn into office on New Year's Day. "We are going to continue to do it again next year."

Patrolman Jason Mroczka's wife Jill kept close watch as their children Jason, 3 and Kaylee, 2, clambered aboard the two of the department's quads and posed for pictures.

"The goal of this evening is to interact with the kids, to show the kids we are there if they need us, to see that police officers are still people," Detective Sgt. James J. Smith said.

Last night's concert featured a performance by Separate Ways - a Journey tribute band.