Neighbors fight crime

On Tuesday night, neighbors will gather for backyard barbecues, ice-cream socials, potlucks and, in a few cases, parades to mark National Night Out Against Crime.

Law enforcement workers say it all the time: If you want to feel safe where you live, get to know your neighbors. If you know who they are – what their regular schedules are, when they go on vacation – and if they know the same about you, everyone will know when something or someone is out of place in the neighborhood.

A neighborhood party is a great way to get started.

Part of the Block Watch and Neighborhood Watch programs, National Night Out Against Crime not only gives residents a chance to get to know their neighbors, but they also can meet members of local law enforcement, McGruff the Crime Dog and Fire Department personnel. Information about the many programs of Spokane COPS and SCOPE also will be available.

Neighbors also can obtain lists of whom to call when help is needed – 911, the Crime Reporting Center (532-9266) and any other agencies that help with neighborhood issues.

“You do not have to have a Block Watch to have a Night Out,” Maurece Vulcano, program coordinator for Spokane COPS, said.

She does, however, add that a Night Out party is a good time to start a Block Watch group. Neighbors already are gathered and can provide contact information and be put on a phone-tree list.

The first 200 neighbors who register for a Night Out party through Spokane COPS will get a yard sign announcing the party to their neighbors.

The registration form available through Spokane COPS asks for contact information for the hosts, when and where the party will be held and how many children and adults are expected. Party-throwers also can request special visitors who might stop by to chat.

Vulcano says she has been surprised this year by how many Night Out party hosts are requesting law enforcement officers by name. She added that Spokane Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick probably is the most-requested guest.

People who register their parties through the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office SCOPE program cannot request specific guests, but every effort is made to arrange a visit by someone in the Sheriff’s Office.

Both the Spokane Police Department and the county Sheriff’s Office have events planned to raise awareness of the going-away parties for crime and drugs.

Every year, Spokane COPS throws a kickoff event in Riverfront Park the day before National Night Out Against Crime.

On Monday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the meadow west of the fountain, a resource fair will be held with information from various community programs. In the past, fire trucks, ambulances and McGruff the Crime Dog have been on hand.

Late registration of neighborhood parties also will be available.

However, if you don’t want to throw a party but are looking for one to attend, you are out of luck. Vulcano never gives out any information about neighborhood parties because it would contradict the spirit of feeling safe in your neighborhood if a stranger were on hand.

The Neighborhood Watch program in Spokane County will have Night Out celebrations at Target stores. Target is a national sponsor of the National Night Out program, which is presented nationally by the National Association of Town Watch.

Diana Somerville, local Neighborhood Watch coordinator through the SCOPE stations, said two parties are planned. The Target store at 13724 E. Sprague Ave. will hold a party from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday; the Target store at 9770 N. Newport Highway will have its party from 4 to 7 p.m.

The parties will include a bicycle rodeo. Information about 911 and the Department of Emergency Management will be available, and SCOPE volunteers can answer questions. Target also has partnered with its vendors to arrange for some giveaways.

“The unity with the community and the ability to have law enforcement and government officials interact (with the public) on a positive level” are some of the most important aspects of the National Night Out, Somerville said.

She added that often, communities interact with law enforcement only when something bad happens. Not so with Night Out.

“It’s happy, and it’s really positive,” Somerville said.

The first 150 parties to be registered with Somerville will get the same yard sign the Block Watch parties will get. The two organizations usually coordinate giveaways during Night Out.

Somerville said the differences between Block Watch and Neighborhood Watch are minimal.

Neighborhoods in the county include rural areas, and residents don’t necessarily have “blocks” of houses. “Neighborhood” in the program title refers to the community as a whole, she said.

Vulcano estimates she has around 120 Night Out parties registered. Somerville says she has between 75 and 100 parties registered in the county.

Both say they are expecting more, and Somerville said she will take registrations over the phone until Tuesday.

“It’s very important to know your neighbors,” Somerville said. “You can watch out for each other.”