By NC WANTED Staff

Posted: Jul 23, 2008
Updated: Sep 10, 2008

DURHAM COUNTY — DURHAM COUNTY: The National Night Out crime prevention event celebrates its milestone 25th anniversary tonight and community organizers are excited to get to know their neighbors and establish partnerships with local law enforcement officers.

This year's event is tonight and is co-sponsored by NC WANTED.

National Night Out is sponsored by the National Association of Town Watches and it aims to bring law enforcement agencies and the community together in a partnership against crime. Each year, cities across the nation encourage residents to stand up against crime by turning on porch lights, hosting block parties or cookouts, organizing youth programs and visiting with local law enforcement officers.

In North Carolina, Durham has the highest community participation rate of the ten cities in this state that rank nationally for their National Night Out events. Last year, Durham had 120 neighborhoods participate in the event and ranked 10th nationwide among cities of its size, said Kimberle Walker, public affairs coordinator for the Durham Police Department.

Along with National Night Out, Durham police prioritize community participation in the fight against crime with programs like the Citizens Police Academy and the Partners Against Crime group.

"We recognize that to be a successful law enforcement agency, we have to have the participation and support of our citizens and residents," said Walker.

Jennifer Baird from Penrith Townhomes in Durham has organized a carnival-themed National Night Out event in the townhome and apartment complex. She encouraged people in the surrounding areas who may not have an event planned in their neighborhood to join the celebration.

It is the first year that Penrith Townhomes will host a National Night Out event and Baird said she anticipates that it will be a success because it's an opportunity "to get to know your neighbors and get to know your community and know what belongs and doesn't belong," she said.

She also hopes the event will get the word out about other crime prevention programs in the neighborhood, including monthly neighborhood watch meetings.

Lois Price from the Burch Avenue Neighborhood Association in Durham is sticking with what works. Last year and this year, her neighborhood had a progressive porch party to celebrate National Night Out. About 50 people in her small neighborhood joined the crime prevention effort at last year's event and Price is confident that the event will bring lots of neighbors together this year as well.

"We’re very interested in preventing crime in our community, as well as the social aspect of our neighbors getting to know one another," Price said. "We’re a very diverse community and we are trying to bridge that gap… it’s nice to have events throughout the year where we can join together. National Night Out presents to us a wonderful opportunity to do that.”

Every neighborhood that registers will receive a personal visit from at least one Durham police officer to strengthen community-police partnerships.

"The more we grow, the more challenging it is for us to touch each and every neighborhood event, but we’re committed to doing that – to make sure at least one officer, but hopefully 2 or 3 sets of officers, will come by just to say 'thank you' to the citizens," Kimberle Walker, public affairs coordinator for Durham police, said.

To learn more, browse the links in the gray sidebar at right.

If you have information on crimes in your area, call NC WANTED toll free at 1.866.43.WANTED or click on "Report a Tip" Your identity can be kept confidential.