On August 3rd, Bowling Green will join over 10,000 other cities in all 50 states, as well as Canadian providences and U.S. territories, in celebrating a “National Night Out Against Crime.”
The event will take place at the Stone Shelter House in the City Park from 6:30 to 9:30, and will include a DJ, door prizes, a vehicle display. free snacks and drinks. The purpose of the festivities is to increase crime prevention awareness, generate support and participation in local anti-crime efforts and strengthen the police and citizen partnership.
The National Night Out is being sponsored by the Bowling Green Police Division, with the support of the U.S. Department of Justice and the Bureau of Justice Assistance. According to Sgt. Tony Hentrek, block watch coordinator for the city of Bowling Green, the National Association of Town Watch has been putting on the National Night Out for about twenty years. This is the first year Bowling Green has been involved.
“The theme is ‘Give Crime and Drugs a Going Away Party,” Hentrek said. “Basically it’s a night where we can bring the community together and show a commitment to wiping out crime in the community.”
Hentrek also wants to use the event to promote the community block watch program that was organized two years ago.
“We’re really committed to organizing established block watch areas within the city, and hopefully this [the National Night Out] will be a cornerstone of a lot of that activity.”Hentrek said.
Hentrek pointed out that not many University students were involved in the block watch program, which he found ironic since University students are the most victimized population in Bowling Green. Despite the fact that many crimes in Bowling Green are alcohol related, alcohol abuse prevention will not be singled out at the National Night Out.
“Crime prevention of any type is what we’re geared for,” Hentrek said, adding that alcohol abuse prevention was something the Bowling Green Police Department regularly educated the public about already.
The City Park is located on Conneaut Street. For more information, contact the Bowling Green Police Division at (419) 352-1131.
