National Night Out Events Scheduled to Take Back the Night

Tuesday is National Night Out, a night for law-abiding citizens to "take back the night" across the country.

Anne Arundel County police spokesman Justin Mulcahy said police will be participating in National Night Out celebrations in other parts of the county, too.

Events are free and open to the public. Bring your family and get to know your community.

Events will be held throughout the county at these locations:

Shady Side at the Lula G. Scott Community Center, 6243 Shady Side Rd., Shady Side, 6 to 9 p.m. Live music, refreshments, police and fire vehicles, police helicopter, children’s activities. Contact Mohan Grover at 410-867-3034 or stop by Renno’s Supermarket in Shady Side. www.NationalNightout.Org.

Crofton Library Parking Lot, 1681 Riedel Rd., Crofton, 5 to 8 p.m. Music, police and fire vehicles, children's activities, skateboarding demonstration, refreshments, police K-9 demonstrations. Contact Jody Leddy at 410-222-1527 or jleddy@aacounty.org.

Brooklyn Park Middle School, 20 Hammonds Ln., Baltimore, 6 to 9 p.m. Aug. 2. DJ entertainment, refreshments, recycling resources, children's activities, police K-9 unit and bike patrol, fire equipment display. Contact Darrin Stevens at 410-627-3611 or jds0904@yahoo.com or County Executive John Leopold’s Constituent and Community Services Department at 410-222-1242.

The movement for "America's Night Out" began in 1984 when the National Association of Town Watch, a citizen patrol group wanted to highlight local anti-crime efforts. 

The first year, 400 communities in 23 states participated. Last August, 37 million people in 15,110 communities came out to celebrate the National Night Out, according to a release.

Police and community leaders said they hope the event will help:

• Heighten crime-prevention awareness.

• Generate support for, and participation in, local crime-prevention programs.

• Strengthen community spirit and police-community partnerships.