Crime prevention a reason to party

It’s billed as a “Night Out Against Crime,” but it could just as well be called “Get to Know Your Neighbors Night.”

Neighborhoods across the country will put on picnics and block parties Aug. 4 to send a message to potential criminals that neighbors know one another, watch out for one another and support community-oriented policing.

“You don’t have to have a Block Watch group to have a party. Anyone can have a party,” said Maurece Vulcano, program manager for COPS, or Community Oriented Policing Services, in Spokane.

Vulcano has created a Block Watch party guidebook that explains Night Out Against Crime and talks about how to put on a party.

“It’s a great way to get to know your neighbors,” she said.

COPS runs a number of neighborhood substations across town. At those stations, neighbors can get crime prevention information, become part of Block Watch groups or volunteer for neighborhood watch programs.

The idea behind Night Out Against Crime is for people to turn on their porch lights, lock their doors and head out for a neighborhood party.

“You should do this, because by taking ownership in your neighborhood and knowing who belongs there and who doesn’t, it cuts down on crime,” said Diana Somerville, the Spokane County Sheriff Department’s Neighborhood Watch director. “It’s just a great way to get to know each other.”

The Sheriff’s Community Oriented Policing Effort, or SCOPE, is the equivalent program for county residents.

Registered parties are considered private block parties, but a complete list of all the parties in the city and county is given as an open invitation to elected officials, judges, command staff, fire staff and police officers.