It’s America’s Night Out Against Crime!
The 23rd Annual National Night Out, a unique crime/drug prevention event sponsored by the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriffs Station and the City of Santa Clarita, will be held on Tuesday, August 1, 2006, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriffs station.
Everyone is invited to be a part of the National Night Out event, which will include refreshments, giveaways, the Sheriffs posse, McGruff the crime dog and much more. All residents are being encouraged to turn on their porch lights all night to “put a light on crime.” This is the first such event in Santa Clarita, although the National Night Out event has been held for nearly two dozen years across the nation.
“Santa Clarita is a close-knit, safety-conscious community that cares about keeping their streets safe and preventing crime. Participation in the National Night Out event is a great way to send the message about the importance of community safety,” commented Mayor Laurene Weste.
Last year’s National Night Out campaign involved citizens, law enforcement agencies, civic groups, businesses, neighborhood organizations and local officials from over 10,000 communities from all 50 states, U.S. territories, Canadian cities and military bases worldwide. In all, over 34 million people participated in national event during 2005.
The event is designed to: heighten crime and drug prevention awareness; generate support for, and participation in, local anticrime programs; strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships; and send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back. Along with the traditional display of outdoor lights and front porch vigils, cities, towns and neighborhoods celebrate National Night Out with a variety of events and activities such as: block parties, cookouts, visits from local police and sheriff departments, parades, exhibits, flashlight walks, contests, and youth programs. “National Night Out events have proven to be an effective, inexpensive and enjoyable program to promote neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships in our fight for a safer nation,” explained Deputy Gerri McCorkle, Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff Station community relations liaison and coordinator of the National Night Out program in Santa Clarita.