While some American cities are seeing high tensions between police officers and residents, events are planned tonight to help strengthen relations between police and the people.
It’s the 33rd annual National Night Out and events are planned in at least 35 Iowa communities along with thousands of others nationwide. Matt Peskin is the event’s national project coordinator.
Peskin says, “On this night, people go outside with their neighbors and local police and they host block parties, cookouts, parades, festivals, all different types of things to get people out, meeting their neighbors, meeting local law enforcement, and hopefully strengthening crime prevention and safety in their areas.”
This year’s observance will be important to the law enforcement community in the wake of recent police-involved shootings, several of which claimed officers’ lives.
“Ninety-nine percent of us are law abiding so it’s very frustrating to watch what was going on,” Peskin says. “National Night Out will be a time when people can really reflect. It symbolizes their partnerships with local law enforcement are strong and their local crime prevention programs are good.”
Find a list of Iowa communities taking part in the Night Out events at: www.natw.org
(Reporting by Pat Powers, KQWC, Webster City)