National Night Out ramping up

The neighborhoods in Hoquiam are getting ready for National Night Out. It is likely that McGruff the Crime Dog will be traveling with the Hoquiam Crime Watch Senior Volunteers. Come on out and support your neighborhood during National Night Out.

In the evening of Tuesday, August 4, neighborhoods throughout Hoquiam will join forces with thousands of communities nationwide for the "National Night Out" against crime.

Last year, 38.1 million people in over 16,540 communities participated in National Night Out, including Hoquiam.

National Night Out is sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch and co-sponsored locally by the Hoquiam Police Department and other local law enforcement agencies. In its 32nd year, we expect this to be yet another great event.

National Night Out provides an opportunity for our community members to get to know one another and build strong networks of communication about what's happening in the neighborhood. Public officials, officers, firefighters and Crime Watch volunteers from Hoquiam as well as an E911 dispatcher will drop in at each block party to visit and talk about important crime prevention and general safety tips.

National Night Out is 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.

If you want to close your neighborhood street or utilize a city park for a party during National Night Out, please contact Tracy Wood at the City of Hoquiam Community Services Department at 538-3970 or [email protected]. Signs and barricades are available from the city as needed.

The police department will be providing free party items to each block party host. To sign up or to obtain more information regarding this event, contact Chief Jeff Myers at (360) 532-0892 x 105 [email protected] or Officer Jared Spaur at (360) 532-0892 x 283 [email protected].