Gloucester Township once again came together for its annual National Night Out on Aug.5 – but with a twist.
Rather than hosting a single large gathering, the police department breaks into two teams, each visiting approximately six neighborhood locations throughout the evening. That allows officers to connect more personally with residents across the township and cover a broader area than other communities.
For more than 20 years, the township’s tradition has enabled police to engage directly with diverse neighborhoods and organizations – exactly the purpose of National Night Out.
Residents and first responders at Morningstar Court, one of the several neighborhoods visited by police on National Night Out.
The annual initiative began in 1984 as a grassroots effort to promote community solidarity and crime prevention awareness. Since then, National Night Out has grown into a nationwide movement that involves millions of residents in thousands of communities on the first Tuesday in August.
In its first year, the event saw some 2.5 million people in more than 400 towns and cities in 23 states participate in the simple concept of turning on porch lights and sitting outside. Since then, some 20 million participants have attended neighborhood block parties, festivals, parades and cookouts.
National Night Out’s core mission is to improve police-community partnerships and revive a true sense of neighborhood togetherness.
“National Night Out is about community building, neighbors getting reacquainted with neighbors and getting more acquainted with our police department,” said Mayor David Mayer. “We spend a lot of time making sure the police department is part of the fabric of the community, and we want our young residents to know they can come up to an officer and that they are here to help.
“We want people to talk to a police officer and associate with them.”
“National Night Out enhances the relationship between neighbors and law enforcement while bringing back a true sense of community,” noted the police department. “The best way to build a safer community is to know your neighbors.
“National Night Out triumphs over a culture that isolates us from each other, and allows us to rediscover our own communities.”
In addition to neighborhood visits, this year’s event included activities at three key public locations with community partners: Gloucester Premium Outlets, the Blackwood Fire Company and Gloucester Township Fire District 6. They served as hubs for residents to meet first responders, enjoy activities, learn about public-safety resources and have open conversations.
For more information about Gloucester Township’s National Night Out activities, contact the police Community Relations Bureau at (856) 228-4011 or email CommunityRelations@GTPolice.com.
