[Click HERE for photos] National Night Out which was held on Tuesday evening is an annual summer event sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch in which precincts organize anti-crime rallies with the participation of local business and civic organizations. Various Police Department units present displays, and other City, State and Federal agencies also take part.

National Night Out has proven to be an effective and enjoyable police/community partnership.

NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg and NYPD Commissioner Ray Kellly participated in a few locations in each boro. One of the locations was at Brooklyn’s 63rd Pct.

YWN photographers Shimon Gifter & Hillel Engel captured the events at the 63rd, 66th & 70th Pct’s.

What is National Night Out?
It’s America’s Night Out Against Crime!

The “26th Annual National Night Out” (NNO), a unique crime/drug prevention event sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch (NATW), took place on Tuesday, August 4, 2009.

Last year’s National Night Out campaign involved citizens, law enforcement agencies, civic groups, businesses, neighborhood organizations and local officials from over 15,000 communities from all 50 states, U.S. territories, Canadian cities and military bases worldwide. In all, over 37 million people participated in National Night Out 2008.

NATIONAL NIGHT OUT is designed to:

Heighten crime and drug prevention awareness;
Generate support for, and participation in, local anticrime programs;
Strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships; and
Send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.

(Dov Gordon – YWN)