National Night Out – America’s Night Out Against Crime – will be celebrated Tuesday, Aug. 7. In preparation for the big “night out,” Richmond Police is inviting all residents and neighborhood associations to be part of the party.
“National Night Out is an awesome time for neighbors to meet and greet one another,” Community, Youth and Intervention Captain John Hall said. “They can organize small block parties, host simple backyard barbecues or fellowship at one of the larger community events. And if they’re unable to attend an event, they can participate by simply turning on their porch lights.”
Last year, Richmond ranked in the top 10 among cities its size across the country for National Night Out participation. The goal for 2012 is the top five. “We want groups – large and small – to join with us on Aug. 7,” Captain Hall said. “The more the merrier.”
Key to our ranking is registered participants. The deadline to register an event to have a Richmond Police officer stop by on National Night Out is Friday, July 27. The official National Night Out registration deadline is Friday, Aug. 3. To register your National Night Out event, visit our website, www.richmondgov.com/police, and click on the 2012 National Night Out Online Registration link under Alerts/Bulletins.
Richmond Police and Target stores will join forces for a National Night Out kickoff event from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 4, at the city’s Target, 7107 Forest Hill Ave. Officers will be on hand with crime prevention materials and children’s fingerprinting ID kits. The festive atmosphere also will include free food.
This year marks the 29th Annual National Night Out, sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch.
