National Night Out

August 4, 2012 North Myrtle Beach, SC - National Night Out is August 7, 6pm-9pm, in North Myrtle Beach. This year's event will be held in the common area adjacent to Docksider's Grille, just over the swing bridge in Barefoot Resort. The event is FREE and open to all North Myrtle Beach residents of all ages.

This year's North Myrtle Beach National Night Out event will offer FREE hotdogs and sodas, the opportunity for kids and adults to explore all manner of Police and Fire vehicles and equipment, games, inflatables for kids, and more.

The purpose of National Night Out is to provide Public Safety employees and the residents they serve with an opportunity to get to know one another better as people, and to offer crime prevention and other safety tips that will help make the community and its neighborhoods safer. Successful crime prevention and fire safety require an ongoing and open dialogue between Public Safety employees and the public they serve.

The National Association of Town Watch (NATW) is a nonprofit, crime prevention organization which works in cooperation with thousands of crime watch groups and law enforcement agencies throughout the country. Since 1981, NATW has been dedicated
to the development, growth and maintenance of organized crime and drug prevention
programs nationwide.

National Night Out, ‘America’s Night Out Against Crime,’ was introduced by the Association in 1984. The program was the brainchild of NATW Executive Director Matt A. Peskin.

In an effort to heighten awareness and strengthen participation in local anticrime efforts, Peskin felt that a high-profile, high-impact type of crime prevention event was needed nationally. At that time, he noted that in a typical ‘crime watch community’, only 5 to 7% of the residents were participating actively. Due to the growth and success of these programs, he felt this percentage was too low. Subsequently, he proposed a national program which would be coordinated by local crime prevention agencies and organizations - but that would involve entire communities at one time. The first National Night Out was introduced early in 1984 - with the event culminating on the first Tuesday in August.

That first year, 400 communities in 23 states participated in National Night Out.Nationwide, 2.5 million Americans took part in 1984. The seed had been planted. In subsequent years, participation has grown steadily. The 28th Annual National Night Out last August involved 37.1 million people in 15,325 communities from all 50 states, U.S. territories, Canadian cities, and military bases worldwide. National Night Out 2012 will culminate on August 7th. Over 15,300 communities are expected to take part. (Texas will celebrate on October 2nd.)

While the traditional ‘lights on’ and front porch vigils remain a part of NNO, activities have expanded considerably over the years to include block parties, cookouts, parades, visits from police, festivals, neighborhood walks, safety fairs, contests, rallies and meetings.

Peskin said, “It’s a wonderful opportunity for communities nationwide to promote police-community partnerships, crime prevention, and neighborhood camaraderie.While the one night is certainly not an answer to crime, drugs and violence, National
Night Out does represent the kind of spirit, energy and determination that is helping to make many neighborhoods safer places throughout the year. It [NNO] is a night to celebrate safety and crime prevention successes - and to expand and strengthen programs for the next 364 days.”