SUNO holds ‘Night Out’ in Pontchartrain Park

Actor Wendell Pierce, star of the HBO series "The Wire" was on hand to encourage the success of SUNO's National Night Out.

The Southern University, New Orleans (SUNO) Police Department held a National Night Out celebration and cook-out August 5, 2008 in Pontchartrain Park at the corner of Press Drive and Prentiss Avenue. The event was co-sponsored by the Pontilly Neighborhood Association and the Pontchartrain Park Neighborhood Association.

Residents of Gentilly Woods, Pontchartrain Park and surrounding communities were encouraged to attend. “This is significant for SUNO and our neighbors,” said Captain Leatrice Warren, head of SUNO Police. “Lately we’ve increased our visibility in the area and neighbors have taken notice of that. With the comebacks in the Park (Pontchartrain) and Gentilly Woods, I really wanted this Night Out to be special for all of us.”

Former Pontchartrain Park resident and actor Wendell Pierce also expressed a level of excitement about the event. “Pontchartrain Park is my home. It’s where my heart is and SUNO is a part of our comeback,” he said.

Pierce is the star of HBO’s "The Wire" and upcoming series "Tremé."

This is the first time SUNO celebrated National Night Out off campus. Activities for the celebration included games, arts & crafts, health and crime prevention services. Finger printing for children and safety information was also available.

Others event organizers were the Orleans Parish Criminal Sheriff Marlin Gusman, the Rev. Melvin Jones Jr., pastor of Bethel Community Church, EXCELth, Incorporated Family Health Center of New Orleans, and Entergy, Incorporated.