“Everything is good to go,” Captain Robert Hart said yesterday. “It’s full speed ahead.”

After the potential of a nationwide Teamster Union strike was resolved, the National Night Out celebration is set to proceed as scheduled on Tuesday August 1 from 3 to 9 p.m. at Rocky Point.

On July 25, the Teamster Union and UPS reached a tentative contract agreement including wage increases for part-time and full-time workers. Prior to this agreement, a national strike 340,000 strong beginning as early as August 1 was a possibility. The Warwick UPS distribution center is the largest in the state and a strike could have resulted in hundreds of picketers on Plan Way and Service Road and the need for police presence.

Facing that possibility, Police Chief Col. Bradford Connor issued a general mobilization of the department in expectation of having 50 to 80 officers at the site.

Hart, director of community policing, said the Warwick National Night Out would have been canceled had there been a strike. He explained that the police officers who were slated to manage the event and control traffic would have been called into monitoring the strike. Hart added that 90% of the details of the event were finalized weeks in advance, so they did change any of their plans. The worst case scenario, he explained, would have been to cancel the event as close to the day as possible.

Now, with this tentative agreement, the festivities can commence as planned. The family-friendly event including 25 food trucks and 300 arts and crafts vendors is sponsored by the Warwick Police Department, Warwick Police Athletic League (PAL), Warwick Police Department Citizens’ Police Academy, City of Warwick and We Be Jammin’ Events in order to support “police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie,” according to its website. The free event will also feature police demonstrations including k-9 and SWAT demonstrations to provide “something for everyone.”

Mark Jandreau, patrolman for the community service division, said that he’s been overseeing the planning and logistics of the Warwick National Night Out event for seven years. He said not only will this year make Warwick’s 30th year participating in this national program, but it will also be “bigger than ever.” He boasted that Warwick’s version event is the largest in the state and the only one with fireworks.

He added that it is a “total family environment” complete with bouncy castles, face painting and balloon animals.

Jandreau recalled that the event used to be held at Oakland Beach when he first started with the force. He said they “grew out of the space” and now, they get to use Rocky Point, which he described as the “most incredible piece of real estate in the state.”

Hart added that it is important to have an event like this one so that the public has the “chance to meet the police in a fun environment.” He explained that the event is mandatory for the police officers managing and working it, but all other officers are “highly encouraged” to bring their families.