In 2020, Colorado law enforcement agencies across the state recorded a total of 258,132 crimes against property. This is an increase of 10.4% compared to 2019, according to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation website. Police departments across the nation encourage neighborhoods to participate in National Night Out in hopes of curbing crimes such as this.
This year, National Night Out will be held on Aug. 3 from 6-9 p.m.
“From 6-9 p.m. in the evening residents in neighborhoods throughout Longmont are asked to lock their doors, turn on outside lights and spend the evening outside with neighbors. Many neighborhoods will be hosting a variety of special events such as block parties, cookouts, parades, flashlight walks, contests, youth activities and other Neighborhood Watch event,” according to the city of Longmont website.
One such party will be held in the 300 block of Sherman Drive where Susan Scruggs and her neighbors will celebrate 20 years of National Night Out events. This year her neighborhood isn’t planning a big party but is expecting 45 members of her community to attend and share some homemade ice cream.
“Our neighborhood benefits from everyone getting to know each other better and meeting any new neighbors,” Scruggs said. “We think getting to know your neighbors is a great deterrent to crime in general. Everyone knows each other better so we can let each other know if something happens.”
In addition to getting to know others in the neighborhood, National Night Out participants, who register their party with the city of Longmont, can request that a member of Longmont Public Safety join in the festivities.
Police officers and firefighters attend National Night Out and other neighborhood events to get to know some of the people in the neighborhoods they serve, said Kay Armstrong, Longmont Public Safety outreach and volunteer coordinator. They open up the firetrucks and hand out activity books and junior police badges to children, she said.
“It’s just a way for our police department, and hopefully the beat officer — the officer assigned to the area — to get better acquainted with the neighbors. Then they know who to call if they have any future questions,” Armstrong said.
Getting residents involved in their neighborhoods is important to Longmont Public Safety, according to Armstrong. This year, Longmont Public Safety realized that the neighborhood surrounding Lanyon Park has not had registered neighborhood groups, unlike most neighborhoods in Longmont. In an effort to reengage neighbors, a team from the city has been formed to help bring this community together.
Part of the festivities includes information and education booths for resources residents can access in the city of Longmont and with local nonprofit organizations. Additionally, neighbors will be able to enjoy food from local food trucks while enjoying some outdoor entertainment, Armstrong said.
“We are hoping that some of the neighbors who come to the big party will want to go back with some information we are going to hand out and maybe pull together some of their neighbors who live closer together with them,” Armstrong said.
In addition to getting to know neighbors, National Night Out can “generate support for, and participation in, local anti-crime programs,” according to the city of Longmont website.
In the fall, several of these groups meet again to discuss neighborhood crime prevention. Police officers join these meetings to teach best practices and answer questions, Armstrong said.
Armstrong would like to remind Longmont residents “that Longmont Public Safety is here to be partners in their building quality of life. We welcome the chance to come out, not just National Night Out, not just neighborhood watch events, but if neighbors are getting together … I can arrange for a Longmont Public Safety member to come out.”
The city does not keep track of how often National Night Out events lead to the formation of neighborhood watch groups, however, according to Armstrong, she receives more inquiries after National Night Out.
“I just know that our community is safer when neighbors know neighbors when they can look out their front door and something may not look right … they might want to go over and check. I’ve lived in Longmont for 20 years and I just know it makes a big difference when you do know your neighbors and interact with each other,” Armstrong said.
Armstrong encourages those who wish to meet their neighbors or organize a National Night Out to “make it as simple as possible.”
“I like to suggest to drag out your lawn chairs and maybe a plate of cookies and water or lemonade and just visit and get to know each other. Don’t make it complicated, don’t stress over getting to know your neighbors and just have fun! Just have fun with each other and that is what I think really builds on future relationships,” she said.
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