The National Association of Town Watch has completed judging for National Night Out 2009 and for the second year in a row, the City of Suffolk placed 1st in nationwide judging! National Night Out, which was held on August 4th this year, is an annual event designed to heighten crime and drug prevention awareness, generate support for, and participation in, local anti-crime efforts, strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships, and send a message to criminals letting them know neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.
This was Suffolk's ninth year participating in National Night Out, which included 36.7 million participants in over 14,625 communities across the country. After the August event, participating cities submit both written and video documentation of their National Night Out event(s). Suffolk's participation entry was selected from 251 entries in category three, which includes cities with populations of 50,000-99,999.
This year Suffolk had its largest National Night Out ever with over 60,665 people in 50 communities and businesses participating in National Night Out events and pre-events. Debbie George, Director of Media and Community Relations, credits citizen and business involvement for the high finish. "Suffolk's National Night Out is an excellent example of what we are capable of when we all work together. The teamwork and partnerships that develop during National Night Out are extremely beneficial and last long after that night in August," George advised.
Suffolk placed the highest of any city in Virginia in any of the entry categories. Suffolk's National Night Out video entry can be viewed at
www.suffolknno.org.
