The annual event, started in 1984, promotes community involvement in crime prevention.
National Night Out is run by National Association of Town Watch (NATW), a non-profit organization.
The introduction of National Night Out, “America’s Night Out Against Crime”, in 1984 began an effort to promote involvement in crime prevention activities, police-community partnerships, neighborhood camaraderie and send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back. NATW’s National Night Out program culminates annually, on the first Tuesday of August.
Cities across the U.S., like Worcester, took part in the festivities on Aug. 5.
“It just gets bigger and bigger every year,” Worcester Police Deputy Chief Steve Sargent told MassLive.com. “Making people feel safe is really what it’s all about.”
Meanwhile, in Janesville, Wis., more than 2,000 people came down to the National Night Out celebration.
“As a kid, when I’d see that police squad car pass, it was intriguing. But it was a neutral kind of intriguing,” Janesville Police Chief Dave Moore told the Janesville Gazette-Xtra. “You’d see them (police) at work, on the road. It wasn’t a fun environment, and maybe more intimidating to see them. This, tonight, is fun.”
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