National Night Out

On August 1, 2006, the City of Owatonna participated in the 23rd Annual National Night Out event.

The National Night Out event is designed to heighten crime and drug awareness; to generate support for, and participation in local anticrime programs; to strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships; and to send a message to criminals, letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back against crime. Together, through collaboration, citizens and the police can have a dramatic effect on the reduction of crime and drugs in neighborhoods.

The 2006 event was successful in organizing thirty-four block parties throughout the city, and they had an estimated 20 plus citizens at each party. In all, approximately 700 citizens attended neighborhood block parties. The Owatonna Police Department had officers stop by the block parties to discuss and strategize ways of making our neighborhoods a safer place to live. To top off the event, a central block party was sponsor by the Owatonna Police Department in Central Park. Organizers of the event served over 300 root beer floats in Central Park, bringing the total number of participants for the entire event to approximately 1000.

The Owatonna Police Department strives to succeed in developing strong community-police partnerships and this can only be done through joint efforts such as the National Night Out event.