There were many special success stories surrounding the Johnston Police Department’s recent National Night Out held inside Johnston’s War Memorial Park.

“This was certainly vintage JPD,” many people offered during what many people from senior citizens to attending Johnstonians noted could have also been called “a community cookout of huge proportions.”

To which Johnston Police Chief Joseph P. Razza noted: “Our National Night Out was a huge success spearheaded by Capt. Mike Babbitt and Officer Charles ‘Chuck’ Psilopoulos who did an excellent job of organizing the event.”

Make that “extra special event” during which Gov. Daniel J. McKee made a special appearance and congratulated Razza and the JPD.

The event was complete within hots dogs and hamburgers cooked by some of Johnston’s finest — Lou Cotoia, Mike Andreozzi and Luca Lancellotti.

“We are proud of this year’s National Night Out (NNO),” said Razza of the annual affair that is designed to bring local police department’s closer to neighborhoods in the community. “There was face-painting for the children along with balloon animals to meet every child’s needs.”

Perhaps the biggest attention getter during the four-hour event was surprise visits by the creations of Costume Characters of Cranston that has teamed up with the JPD for other important community events such as the recently held and highly attended “Pizza with the Police.”

Johnston’s Night Out also featured a lumberjack-like character and a beautifully dressed butterfly stilt walker who captured the hearts of young and old alike.

So, the JPD’s NNO was again and overwhelming success and epitomizes the National Night Out’s philosophy that reads, in part; “Together, we are making communities safer and more caring places to live. Likewise, NNO is a community-building campaign that promotes police and community partnerships.”

And as many people told Razza, Deputy Chief Mark Vieira and ranking officer of the JPD command staff: “NO local PD (Police Department) does it better than the one here in Johnston. They certainly put their best feet forwards tonight.”