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Police, communities ready for Night Out
Annual anti-crime events planned
Friday, July 31, 2009
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Charles County police and residents are gearing up for Tuesday's National Night Out, the annual event aimed at bringing together the community to send an anti-crime message.
Neighborhoods and businesses across the county will participate in the celebration with everything from block parties to flashlight walks.
"It gets people out to say, ‘Hi, I'm your neighbor,'" said Connie Gray, a community organizer with the sheriff's office. "I can remember walking down the street as a child, and before you go home, your parents knew where you were and what you were doing."
Things are a little different now, she said. However, National Night Out gives residents a chance to connect and show they're watching out for each other.
National Night Out also allows the community to interact with police officers over hot dogs or punch.
"It's a relaxed atmosphere," Gray said.
Charles County Sheriff Rex W. Coffey and the county commissioners will be officially kicking things off at 5 p.m. at the Moose Lodge in White Plains.
From there, the sheriff and other members of law enforcement will visit various community gatherings. McGruff the crime dog and his nephew, Scruff, will also make appearances across the county.
About 156 neighborhoods have registered to participate in the county's National Night Out, Gray said.
The town of Indian Head will hold a bicycle parade and celebration from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., while community members in Cobb Island are organizing a Family Fun Fair at Old Fisherman's Field from 5:30 to 8 p.m.
Gray said that Nanjemoy and the Waldorf neighborhoods of Bannister, Sheffield and Hampshire also have large events.
She said the economic downturn has somewhat affected the size of the National Night Out celebration, and many communities have opted to scale down their festivities and simply participate by leaving their porch lights illuminated.
"There has been some cutting back, but they still want to be involved," Gray said.
The sheriff's office has received donations from several local businesses and will use the money to distribute gift cards and National Night Out T-shirts to communities for use in their celebrations, according to Gray.
The National Association of Town Watch, which sponsors National Night Out, has awarded Charles County a prize for its annual event for the past 14 years, she said.
