National Night Out promotes awareness

Posted: Monday, July 5, 2010 6:17 am
By: Chris Menees, Staff Reporter

By CHRIS MENEES
Staff Reporter
Union City police are preparing for a big “Night” on the town.
This year’s local obser-vance of the 27th Annual National Night Out crime and drug prevention event will be a three-day celebration that will culminate with a prayer breakfast and neighborhood block parties Aug. 3.
Union City Police Chief Joe Garner said police will conduct several pre-event activities to include support of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Northwest Tennessee’s back-to-school event July 23 at Kiwanis Park downtown, as well as the conducting of safety programs at Walmart Supercenter on July 29, just a few days before local students register for classes.
Neighborhoods throughout Union City will be joining forces with thousands of communities nationwide for National Night Out, sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch and co-sponsored locally by the Union City Police Depart-ment.
The effort will involve over 15,000 communities from all 50 states, U.S. territories, Canadian cities and military bases worldwide. In all, over 37 million people are expected to participate in “America’s Night Out Against Crime” on Aug. 3.
National Night Out is designed to heighten crime and drug prevention awareness; generate support for, and participation in, local anti-crime efforts; strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships; and send a message to criminals letting them know neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.
From 7-10 p.m. Aug. 3, residents in neighborhoods throughout Union City and across the nation are being asked to lock their doors, turn on outside lights and spend the evening outside with neighbors and police. Many neighborhoods throughout the city will be hosting a variety of special events such as block parties, cookouts, visits from police, flashlight walks, contests, youth activities and anti-crime rallies, according to Garner.
Permit applications for block parties are available at the Union City Police Department, with the first 10 applicants to receive National Night Out T-shirts and ball caps.
The schedule of events for July 29 and Aug. 3 includes:
July 29
9 a.m.-1 p.m. at Walmart — Photo I.D. and DNA program; Child Safe safety locks program; child car seat safety program; identity theft program; and drug safety program.
Aug. 3
7-8 a.m. — National Night Out prayer breakfast at St. James Episcopal Church in Union City.
6-10 p.m. — National Night Out block parties in neighborhoods throughout the city.
For more information about any of the activities, call the Union City Police Department at 885-1515.
Staff Reporter Chris Menees may be contacted by e-mail at cmenees@ucmessenger.com.
Published in The Messenger 7.2.10