Integrity Above All
NATIONAL NIGHT OUT On August 7, 2007, the City of Owatonna participated in the 24th 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, citizens and the police can have a dramatic effect on the reduction of crime and drugs in neighborhoods. Neighborhoods organized forty-seven block parties throughout Owatonna, which is a 38% increase in participation from the previous year. It is estimated that over 1500 people participated. Owatonna Police Department Officers visited each block party and distributed crime prevention packets to the adults and promotional items to the children. This gave residents an opportunity to meet the officers assigned to their neighborhood and initiated discussions of ways to make our neighborhoods a safer place to live. In addition, Target made three surprise visits to block parties, bringing coolers of pop, bags of chips, and children’s toys. 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.
Owatonna Police Department – 2007 Annual Report
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