NATIONAL NIGHT OUT DAY
National Night Out Day is observed annually on the first Tuesday in August. This night focuses on the community and raising awareness in the United States. Promoting police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods safer.
Shining a spotlight on community police programs, National Night Out increases connections between those who serve and their neighborhoods through the programs they provide. Some of these programs include:
- Drug prevention
- Town watch
- Neighborhood watch
- Other anti=watch
One of the largest National Night Out events is on the west side of Columbus, Ohio is Ogden Block Watch in Columbus organizes one of the largest festivals which include live music, food, and entertainment.
HOW TO OBSERVE
Block watches, not-for-profits, business, and police departments organize events around the country. They may be as small as a backyard barbecue or as large as a full-blown festival. Events around the country are normally organized by block watches, not-for-profit organizations, companies, and police departments. Join a local National Night Out event near you. Post on social media using #NationalNightOutDay.
HISTORY
The National Association of Town Watch sponsors National Night Out in the United States and Canada. Although the origin dates back to the early 1970s the day has been celebrated since 1984.
More recently Dog Walker Watch has been incorporated into being a part of the program. Dog owners, 75 million of them, are out day and night with their dogs walking neighborhoods. These neighbors can assist local law enforcement as extra eyes and ears while out walking their dog. As extra pairs of eyes all over communities, these neighbors can assist local law enforcement to be more aware of the goings-on in communities.