The Richmond Police Department and the City of Richmond are getting in gear for this year’s National Night Out.
The fun begins with the National Night Out Kickoff from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 4, at Target, 7101 Forest Hill Ave. Richmond Police and the Richmond Sheriff’s Office will be there with crime prevention materials and children’s fingerprinting ID kits. Richmond Police also will have some of the Department’s Special Operations Division equipment there for the children to see and explore. The festive atmosphere will include free food.
Then it’s “America’s Night Out” on Tuesday, Aug. 7. Events in more than 80 area neighborhoods are scheduled from 6 to 10 p.m.
Mayor Dwight C. Jones and Chief Bryan T. Norwood will lead a caravan across the city to visit several of these neighborhoods and join in the celebration.
“Our city is safer because of events like National Night Out,” Mayor Jones said. “When neighbors know neighbors, and know the officers patrolling their streets, it develops mutually beneficial partnerships that inevitably lead to reductions in crime.”
Chief Norwood agrees. “The key to the success of our community policing efforts in Richmond is the members of the community,” the chief said. “Violent crime is down in the city and it’s because of inroads we’ve made with our community partners – the residents in every Richmond neighborhood.”
This year marks the 29th Annual National Night Out, sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch.
