News

Community, Maine police come together for National Night Out

Maine police departments hosted the National Night Out, a nationwide campaign to connect police and the community.

Communities:

Posted August 5

Updated August 6

Brianna Soukup Staff Photographer

Libby Kamrowski Kenny Staff Photographer

Jake Dube, center, high fives with kids at the Portland Police Department and East Bayside Neighborhood’s National Night Out event at Fox Field in Portland on Tuesday. (Brianna Soukup/Staff Photographer)

The family-friendly event is built around connecting youth with police to strengthen the community. It’s the 15th year that the Portland Police Department has hosted the event.

Brianna Soukup

Brianna was born and raised in Nebraska and became interested in photography in elementary school when her art teacher gave her a camera to document their fifth grade class. After college she interned... More by Brianna Soukup

Libby Kamrowski Kenny

Libby Kamrowski Kenny is a staff photographer at the Sun Journal who came aboard in June 2025. She’s been in journalism longer than that though, as her prematurely graying hair can attest, starting as... More by Libby Kamrowski Kenny

Join the Conversation

Please sign into your Sun Journal account to participate in conversations below. If you do not have an account, you can register or subscribe. Questions? Please see our FAQs.

Jake Dube, center, high fives with kids at the Portland Police Department and East Bayside Neighborhood’s National Night Out event at Fox Field in Portland on Tuesday. (Brianna Soukup/Staff Photographer)
Portland Fire Department’s Kyle Kennedy high fives a group of kids at the Portland Police Department and East Bayside Neighborhood’s National Night Out event at Fox Field in Portland on Tuesday. Kennedy and other Portland Fire Department members brought down a fire truck to the event for kids to check out. (Brianna Soukup/Staff Photographer)
Kids pet Archie, the Portland Police Department’s comfort dog, at the National Night Out event at Fox Field in Portland on Tuesday. (Brianna Soukup/Staff Photographer)
Gerard Wahlman gives a group of summer camp kids and staff a tour of the fire truck at the Portland Police Department and East Bayside Neighborhood’s National Night Out event at Fox Field in Portland on Tuesday. (Brianna Soukup/Staff Photographer)
Liensel Lobi plays with Archie, the Portland Police Department’s comfort dog, at the National Night Out event at Fox Field in Portland on Tuesday. Les Smith, Archie’s handler, said the five-month-old puppy is becoming a bit of a local celebrity. He is one of a few police comfort dogs in Maine and Smith thinks it will continue to grow. He is used to help calm victims of crimes when they’re making statements which can be re-traumatizing, he can be on the scene of accidents and help bring comfort to staff as well. (Brianna Soukup/Staff Photographer)
Liensel Lobi pets Archie, the Portland Police Department’s comfort dog, at the National Night Out event at Fox Field in Portland on Tuesday. Les Smith, Archie’s handler, said the five-month-old puppy is becoming a bit of a local celebrity. He is one of a few police comfort dogs in Maine and Smith thinks it will continue to grow. He is used to help calm victims of crimes when they’re making statements which can be re-traumatizing, he can be on the scene of accidents and help bring comfort to staff as well. (Brianna Soukup/Staff Photographer)
Kids pet Archie, the Portland Police Department’s comfort dog, at the National Night Out event at Fox Field in Portland on Tuesday. (Brianna Soukup/Staff Photographer)
Jackson Goguen, 12, makes a bubble Tuesday during Lewiston's National Night Out at Lewiston Middle School on Central Avenue. The family-friendly community event is built around connecting youth with police to strengthen community, and was paired with Lewiston Summer Fun & Films along with a broad range of local entertainment and volunteers. (Libby Kamrowski Kenny/Staff Photographer)
Drew Goguen, 7, focuses on making the biggest bubble he can Tuesday during Lewiston's National Night Out at Lewiston Middle School on Central Avenue. The family-friendly community event is built around connecting youth with police to strengthen community, and was paired with Lewiston Summer Fun & Films along with a broad range of local entertainment and volunteers. (Libby Kamrowski Kenny/Staff Photographer)
Rebecca Smith passes out free hot dogs Tuesday while volunteering on behalf of Walmart's transportation and distribution team during Lewiston's National Night Out at Lewiston Middle School on Central Avenue. They provided 1,200 hot dogs for attendees. (Libby Kamrowski Kenny/Staff Photographer)
Pediatricians Dr. Joe Anderson, center, and Erin Van Wagenen, right, talk Tuesday with a woman at a gun lock box giveaway at Lewiston Middle School on Central Avenue in Lewiston. The giveaway by the Lewiston Police Department and the Maine Gun Safety Coalition was part of the family-friendly National Night Out to bridge the distance between youth and local police departments. (Libby Kamrowski Kenny/Staff Photographer)
Kristen Phillips of Lewiston holds a gun lock box Tuesday during a free giveaway by Lewiston police and members of the Maine Gun Safety Coalition behind Lewiston Middle School on Central Avenue. The giveaway was part of the National Night Out and Midweek Movie nights organized by Lewiston police Officer Joe Philippon. (Mark LaFlamme/Staff Writer)