National Night Out Against Crime

WHAT:

WHEN:

August 2, 2011, from 6-8 p.m.

WHERE:

The Towne Center @ Snellville / Towne Green adjacent to Snellville City Hall

All residents invited to 38th annual National Night Out Against Crime. You an meet local police and safety officers; see displays of police vehicles, tactical gear, K-9 (police dog) demos, home security vendors, safety and security tips, child IDs, representatives from local college Criminal Justice programs, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), Gwinnett Humane Society, financial institutions and activities for children plus light refreshments. There will be a ceremonial flag-raising at 6 p.m.

Sponsored by the Snellville Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association and the Target Corporation.
More in-depth information on this event can be found below:

National Night Out 2011

The Snellville Police Department is making preparations for the 38th annual National Night Out Against Crime on Tuesday, August 2, from 6pm to 8pm. This year’s event, which is open to all families, residents and merchants of the Snellville area, will take place in the commons area of the Snellville City Hall, now known as the Town Green @ Snellville.

National Night Out Against Crime is dedicated to the development, growth and maintenance of organized crime and drug prevention programs nationwide. It is an effort to heighten awareness and strengthen participation in local anticrime efforts. The event offers an opportunity for the residents of Snellville to partner with their safety forces in understanding the importance of detecting and reporting suspicious activities in the city. While a one night event is not the complete answer to stopping crime, National Night Out Against Crime hopes to foster a spirit, energy and determination to help make Snellville a safe place to live and conduct business for its citizens and merchants. The goal is to help forge a camaraderie between Snellville residents and merchants with the Snellville Police Dept and local fire and rescue units.

Visitors to the event will be able to meet Roy Whitehead, the Snellville Police Chief, as well as police officers and detectives from the Department. In addition, K-9 demonstrations will be held throughout the evening. On display will be police vehicles with the latest state-of-the-art accessories; tactical equipment will also be available to view. Representatives from the championship Snellville Police Explorers Scout Post will be available to answer questions about this unique scouting unit that focuses on law enforcement education for high-school-age teenagers. Also, representatives from the Snellville Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association will be on hand to answer questions about participation in the Citizens Police Academy. This free program, which meets for 2 hours weekly over a 10-week period, provides participants with an inside look at how the police department functions. Information on the Work Intelligence Network will also be available for local merchants. This group, which meets monthly at the Police Department, focuses on sharing information between law enforcement and Snellville businesses to help detect, deter and report criminal activity. Local fire and rescue units will also be invited to participate along with various home security vendors. A variety of brochures and pamphlets focusing on safety, drug prevention and related topics will be available. Food and soft drinks will be provided. Local college representatives will be on hand to discuss their Criminal Justice degree programs. The Gwinnett Humane Society, MADD, banks and home security system vendors will be

among those participating.

The event this year will be especially meaningful since the Snellville Police Dept recently moved into its new location near City Hall. As part of the overall vision for a city-center in Snellville, the facility is strategically placed. It provides nearly twice the space of the previous location and is outfitted with the latest law enforcement technology. This state of the art facility was built, not only for the current force of 43 sworn and 10 civilians, but with the capacity to accommodate growth for more than 25 years. Not only does it provide the latest in law enforcement technology, it also provides the latest in computer technology, security systems and great potential for additional forensics applications.

The idea behind National Night Out Against Crime began in 1984. It has grown over the years to involve over 36 million people in over 14,000 communities across the United States. The event is celebrated on the first Tuesday in August each year. It is an ideal way for law enforcement and residents to get together for a common cause and, more importantly, to meet each other and look at crime from the same perspective.

Police departments rely on their residents and merchants to help pinpoint suspicious activity; the broad reach is essential in today’s complex and busy communities. With only about 5% of residents nationwide actively participating with their local law enforcement departments, National Night Out Against Crime continues to focus on building a mutual concern for the safety of our neighborhoods. The August 2 event is one element in this outreach and one in which the City of Snellville and the Snellville Police Department are excited to participate. Mark your calendar now and plan to attend!