Meet the Neighbors: Ralston Community

Ralston community members and Baltimore County police gathered Tuesday along Brightside Avenue in celebration of .

Neighbors and police and representatives from the Pikesville store mingled with each other and with McGruff the Crime Dog.

At this event, McGruff's entire entourage was in attendance, including Capt. Roman Zaryk; Lt. Jay Landsman; the officers who visited the Pikesville area's nine National Night Out events; and McGruff's handlers: Officer (Ret.) Martha Franklin-Motton and Jerry D'Antonio, who is president of the Pikesville Police & Community Relations Council.

They posed there, right in the middle on Brightside Avenue, for a group photo.

Anna Davis, secretary of The Ralston Community Association and director of the Ralston Citizens on Patrol group, visited with association President Sara Glik and Mel Hagen, treasurer, as well as numerous community residents.

National Night Out is an annual event that helps develop existing bonds between police and community members, and helps establish new ones, said Baltimore County Chief of Police Jim Johnson, who attended events throughout the community Tuesday, including the Valleybrook Community Association event.