August 7, 2007
National Night Out Events Planned for Tonight
The annual National Night Out is set to kick off this evening, with a host of neighborhood gatherings sponsored by the Metropolitan Police Department to choose from. The yearly event is designed to raise awareness about street crime and encourage residents to meet their neighbors by joining in on any of the planned events, or just by staying outside in their front yards or porches late in an effort to deter criminal activity.
Mayor Fenty and Police Chief Lanier are set to host an NNO event at the Barry Farm Recreation Center at 1230 Sumner Road, SE beginning at 5 p.m. You can find a complete list of MPD-sponsored events by Police District here, and if you and your neighbors have a gathering of your own planned, be sure to let us know in the comments.
This year's National Night Out coincides with this summer's third "All Hands on Deck" police initiative, where all MPD officers will work full shifts over the course of two days in a show of force. A teenager was shot last night on the 1700 block of M Street NE, during the first night of this round of "All Hands on Deck." Last weekend's effort, the summer's second installment of the effort, reportedly resulted in over 400 arrests.
Photo by _charlo
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Saw the MPD 4PM watch muster outside Potomac Gardens on 12th St SE yesterday. Very impressive. It was ruled too hot for the police horses attached to 1D, but the bike patrol still pedaled out in the oppressive heat and humidity.
I was wondering what the brigade of officers & military (well, they might have been military. They were wearing tan uniforms instead of the traditional blue police uniform) was doing at Anna Cooper Circle last night. They had a block or two roped off & it looked like they were lining up for a drill of some sort.
I wish them luck on their sleep-deprived patrols!