PALM VALLEY — Area residents will have an opportunity to meet officers, learn about crime prevention, listen to some tunes and enjoy a little food.
The city’s Police Department will hold its seventh annual National Night Out event Tuesday, Oct. 2, from 5 to 8 p.m. It will be located in the Harlingen Country Club main parking lot.
National Night Out is a community policing effort around the United States that is meant to raise awareness. In most places, it is held the first Tuesday of August. But in Florida and Texas it is often held in October to avoid the hot weather.
There to see will be members of the Palm Valley Police Department, personnel from other organizations and businesses, and local and state agencies as well as a live DJ, city leaders and a bounce house for the kids.
NNO has been held since 1984. Matt Peskin, founder and executive director of National Association of Town Watch, introduced the National Night Out program that year.
The first national event involved 2.5 million neighbors across 400 communities in 23 states. At that time, it was a message that involved front porch type of activity in which the effort was to connect community watch groups together.
Since then, it has grown to much more, including block parties, celebrations, parades and cookouts. Safety and equipment demonstrations have been part of the more recent efforts.
Just two years ago, it reportedly involved 38 million residents in 16,000 communities across the United States, according to the NNO website.
If you go
WHAT: Palm Valley National Night Out
WHERE: Harlingen Country Club parking lot
WHEN: Tuesday, Oct. 2 from 5 to 8 p.m.
