This year’s National Night Out will be recognized Aug. 2 in West Plains.
West Plains Police Chief Stephen Monticelli is encouraging the public to mark their calendars and start preparing.
The police department first brought the National Night Out campaign in 2019 to bring neighbors together to reduce crime; a second annual event was planned in 2020, but canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. No National Night Out event was announced in 2021.
Monticelli said the National Night Out, also known as America’s Night Out Against Crime, is intended to spread awareness about crime and drug prevention, generate support and participation in local anticrime efforts and strengthen neighborhood bonds and police partnerships.
The chief said the night is also meant to send a message to criminals letting them know neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.
HOW TO PARTICIPATE
From 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Aug. 2, residents in neighborhoods across West Plains and the nation are asked to lock their doors, turn on outside lights and spend the evening outside with neighbors and police.
Many neighborhoods across the city will host a variety of special events such as block parties, cookouts, ice cream socials, visits from the police, flashlight walks, contests, youth activities and anticrime rallies, said Monticelli.
Monticelli encourages people to fill out a contact form if they plan to host an event.
“The form will be used to help us find and attend as many of the events as we, the fire department and emergency medical services can,” Monticelli said.
There are paper copies inside the lobby of the West Plains Police Department, 1912 Holiday Lane, or the public can fill one out on Facebook at the official West Plains Police Department page under the event for National Night Out in the ticket section, or print one out online at police.westplains.gov, under the press release section.
Monticelli encourages everyone to take part in the event “to show criminals they are not welcome in West Plains.”
