National Night Out Fast Approaching

Tampa Police Department District One is encouraging our neighborhood watch groups or businesses to sponsor National Night Out celebrations in their neighborhood or at their business. Once again we will share Tampa Police Department assets (motorcycles, horses) at our locations.

National Night Out involves citizens, law enforcement, civic groups, businesses and local officials. Since 1984, “National Night Out - America’s Night Out Against Crime” has grown to involve over 37 million people from more than 15,000 communities.

National Night Out 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;

• Send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back

District One would like this year’s event to focus on bicycle registration. Officers at the events will enter the bicycle information directly into our computer system. This information will give officers the ability to identify stolen bicycles immediately.

Also, neighbors are invited to bring their laptop computers, IPADS and GPS units to the event and these items can be engraved with their drivers’ license number.

National Night Out has proven to be an effective, inexpensive and enjoyable program promoting neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships for safer communities. By adding these pro-active crime prevention measures we will be “Target Hardening District One”. The benefits our neighborhoods derive from National Night Out extend well beyond one night.

This year National Night Out is once again sponsored by Target. We have made contact with our local Target stores in District One and they are very excited to participate with our local events. They have volunteers and donations that will be distributed to our groups.

If your neighborhood would like to host a National Night Out event at your location be sure to email: maryanne.hunsberger@ci.tampa.fl.us as soon as possible. District One will work with each and every one of our dedicated Neighborhood Watch groups for successful National Night Out events.