National Night Out

National Night Out (NNO) has proven to be an effective, inexpensive, and enjoyable program to promote neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships.  Last year, over 36 million people participated.  The program is in its 27^th year and is a unique crime and drug prevention event sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch (NATW).  This year’s event takes place Tuesday, August 3, 2010, while Texas will celebrate on October 5^th, 2010.

Last year’s National Night Out campaign involved citizens, law enforcement agencies, civic groups, businesses, neighborhood organizations and local officials from over 15,000 communities from 50 states, U.S. territories, Canadian cities, and military bases worldwide.

Along with the traditional display of outdoor lights and front porch vigils, cities, towns and neighborhoods celebrate NNO with a variety of events such as block parties, cookouts, visits from local police and sheriff departments, parades, flashlight walks, and youth programs.

Here’s what Governor Eliot Spitzer of New York says about National Night Out –

“Throughout the years, the NNO has demonstrated the positive value of a strong community and police partnership based on a mutual concern for the safety of our neighborhoods.  With each porch light that is left on, each flashlight in hand, and each streetlight that illuminates commercial areas, a beacon of hope is sent to good, honest citizens, with the message that crime will not be tolerated.”