The Delray Beach Police Department is inviting neighborhoods throughout the city to join forces with thousands of communities nationwide on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2017 for the "34th Annual National Night Out" crime and drug prevention event. This year we've included an anti-bullying campaign to encourage everyone to stand up to bullying and support one another.
From 6 to 10 p.m. residents are encouraged to lock their doors, turn on their outside lights to show their support for this event and to spend the evening at the Delray Beach Tennis Center with their neighbors, community groups, public safety officers, and their city officials.
"It's very important that the community come together and people get to know one another and know their neighbors," Chief Jeffrey Goldman said. "If the people in the community come together and know each other, there can be a healthy exchange of information between them and the police and hopefully we can get information to help solve crimes and maybe even prevent crimes."
National Night Out is designed to: (1) Heighten crime and drug prevention awareness; (2) Generate support for, and participate in, local anti-crime efforts; (3) Strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships; and (4) Send a message to criminals letting them know neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.
The Delray Beach Police Department, participating again this year, will be
hosting a Rally at the Delray Beach Tennis Center, 201 West Atlantic
Avenue. ALL activities are free! Residents are invited to enjoy free children's activities, music, food and entertainment. Activities also include demonstrations from Delray Beach Police SWAT, Traffic (motorcycle unit) and the Police Explorers. In addition to the activities, school backpacks filled with supplies will be given to children in attendance (while supplies last). Come meet your city commission members, Delray Beach Police command staff and city officials.
National Night Out is an event that is sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch
and has been held annually in towns and cities across America since 1984. It now involves more than 37.8 million people and 16,124 communities from all 50 states, U.S. territories, Canadian cities and military bases around the world.
"While the one night is certainly not an answer to crime, drugs and violence, National Night Out represents the kind of spirit, energy and determination to help make neighborhoods a safer place year round," Goldman said. "It is a wonderful opportunity for communities across the city to promote police-community partnerships, crime prevention, and neighborhood camaraderie."
