Elected officials, city leadership, law enforcement agencies along with the residents of Grand Rapids will celebrate National Night Out on Tuesday. The city’s news release says during National Night Out residents are encouraged to turn on their outside lights and spend the evening outdoors on porches, lawns, streets or in parks with their neighbors.
Many neighborhoods throughout the city are hosting family-friendly events to promote community and crime prevention. Grand Rapids Police and Fire Department personnel will visit many of these events to connect with residents. As crime prevention is a whole of government approach in Grand Rapids, representatives from several City departments also will tour several events and engage with neighbors throughout the evening.
Sponsored by the Grand Rapids Police Department (GRPD), the City of Grand Rapids, and many neighborhood associations the goal of the night is to encourage neighbors to spend time together in fun and positive ways, raise awareness of crime prevention programs and the role everyone has in keeping neighborhoods safe and strengthen positive community and police relationships among other things.
Julie Niemchick, GRPD crime prevention coordinator, says that when residents and police work together in their neighborhoods, good things happen.
Again, National Night Out takes place Tuesday, August 2nd.
