(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)

“Our goal is not always to arrest. It’s trying to figure out the best solution to the problem. We’re problem solvers.”

New Sewickley Township patrol officer Samantha Vinson talked about the role that her and other police officers have on an everyday basis in a conversation with Matt Drzik on the July 14 edition of A.M. Beaver County. The NSTPD will be once again celebrating National Night Out on August 2, with festivities taking place at Green Valley Park from 6:00 PM until 9:00 PM. The event is dedicated to establish connection between an area’s citizens and its police department.

For officers like Vinson, the image of a police officer is much different than that portrayed in media. “They definitely want to hear the stories especially because of the police TV shows and stuff. They’re seeing us being just nonstop,” she said. “And it’s kind of funny, because the majority of the time officers are just doing paperwork.” But Vinson says that both the variety of roles that she plays–chiefly, as someone who tries to help solve a problem–makes her love her job. “The craziest thing about my job is I just never know what I’m going to walk into, and the aspect of it is ‘every day is a new day’.”

In the case of National Night Out though, the roles for the officers and the plans for the evening are set in place. There will be food trucks, live music, a bounce house, airbrush tattoo artists, the “Drunk Busters” obstacle course to showcase the ills of intoxicated driving, a “smoke trailer” to demonstrate what firefighters deal with, and a helicopter demonstration…just to name a few things. “We’re hoping it’s a good night for everybody,” Vinson stated.

To watch the full interview with Officer Samantha Vinson, click on the Facebook feed below!