Pasadena residents gathered at over twenty different block parties and gatherings around the city to discuss safety and security issues with the Pasadena Police Department and meeting neighbors during the “stepping out for a night against crime†National Night Out.
Over 600 residents interacted with the local police to discuss concerns and get to know who lives in their neighborhood during last Tuesday’s Night Out that also saw free-flowing food and music as well as friendly neighborhood interaction.
In some cases the gatherings had elements of a neighborhood association meeting, with area residents passing around petitions and discussing specific neighborhood problems of crime, traffic, even lack of emergency room services.
“Our hope is that neighbors have a chance to shake each other’s hands and get a neighborhood watch program started if they haven’t already. We know that strong neighborhoods where people know one another are the ones least susceptible to crime,” said police spokeswoman Janet Pope Givens.
The event kicked off at Villa Parke with statements from Mayor Bill Bogaard, Commander Michael Korpal, and Assembly Member Anthony Portantino, who all stressed the importance of community and police relations in combating crimes in the neighborhood.
National Night Out has proven to be an effective, inexpensive and enjoyable program to promote neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships in the fight for a safer nation.
Last year’s National Night Out campaign involved citizens, law enforcement agencies, civic groups, businesses, neighborhood organizations and local officials from over 15,000 communities from all 50 states, U.S. territories, Canadian cities and military bases worldwide. In all, over 37 million people participated in National Night Out 2008.