National Night Out

Get to Know Your Neighbors

National Night Out is an annual event hosted by the National Association of Town Watch and occurs on the first Tuesday in October. The Murphy Police Department participates in National Night Out and is proud of the commitment our community has to this program.

The primary purpose is to get neighbors to leave their front porch lights on and show their support for their local police departments in the fight against crime. Neighbors are encouraged to get out of their homes and meet their neighbors in the area.

The theory is that if neighbors meet and get to know each other, they are more apt to report suspicious activity in their neighborhood rather than "look the other way" when they see something noteworthy. When you know your neighbors and watch out for them, overall crime in the area is reduced.

Neighborhood Activities

Having a block party is a major source of getting the neighbors together in Murphy. Many times, an entire neighborhood turns out for BBQ, hamburgers, hot dogs, watermelon, and dessert feasts. Activities often include bounce houses, basketball games, face painting, and door prize drawings. The method of hosting the activities and social gatherings is decided by each neighborhood.

Another great way to get neighbors together is to contact Lieutenant Adana Barber to present educational programs. Presentations can be structured to cover specific topics. General programs cover burglary prevention, personal safety issues, "watch your children" presentations, and other topics aimed at making Murphy a safer community.

Programs can also involve question-and-answer sessions that cover specific topics concerning the neighborhood. Presentations are limited to 15 minutes due to scheduling constraints. If time runs out and there are questions remaining from the audience.

Police Department's Role

The Murphy Police Department tries to cover as many block parties as possible within the time limit given. Although the Crime Prevention Unit is responsible for coordinating National Night Out, assistance from our Patrol Officers is critical. Patrol Officers are encouraged to attend as many parties as their call load will allow. Neighbors are very interested in meeting the Patrol Officer who is assigned to their area. This also puts a "face" on the department and allows citizens to interact with "their" Officer.

National Night Out is one of the high points of the year for the Murphy Police Department. Officers look forward to seeing old friends and making new ones as well.

Contact

For information on organizing a National Night Out party in your neighborhood, the Community Liaison Officer.