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National Night Out Unites Communities, Law Enforcement

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It was happening everywhere. In College Park and Glassmanor. In Ft. Washington, Rockville and Laurel. Even in California, Texas and Iowa! Locations throughout the United States were participating in the 29th annual National Night Out event, designed to promote safe communities and, most importantly, to have fun. Block parties throughout the country were designed to promote crime and drug prevention and were sponsored nationally by the National Association of Town Watch. All over, citizens of all ages came out to meet with local law enforcement and health officials in order to generate support for local anti-crime groups and promote discussion of how to keep the community crime and drug free.
One of Prince George's County's most rocking events occurred at the Hillcrest Heights Community Center on Tuesday, August 7, starting at 6 p.m. Families, police officers (park police and county officers) and even some lawmakers joined in on the jam-packed night of fun. A DJ played tunes from Rihanna and Michael Jackson while the Prince George's County Mobile Health Truck and Prince George's County Moblie Police Lab provided insight into the life of those keeping our streets safe and healthy. There was also food, face painting, moon bounces, the Skate Mobile, a portable video game truck and even huge inflatable hamster balls kids enjoyed running in. "The community has come out," organizers said to the crowd. Live performances by local dancers and rappers such as Brianna Walker, 16, dancing to Beyonce and rapper JD the Junior kept the crowd dancing in their seats.
Rapper Young Motive finished his performance with a bit of freestyling, saying to the crowd: "It's important that our youth stay encouraged and have someone to look up to. I'm going to be that one to look up to."
Thomas Blount, 16, from Upper Marlboro, saw that the Xtreme Teens were having an event and decided to come to the Hillcrest Heights Community Center. "I'm going to look around and meet up with my friends," he said. His brother is into police work, and Blount said he was going to learn more about it at the National Night Out by grabbing some brochures.
Overall, the night was a success, drawing the community and police together with everyone having a fun time with family and friends.