National Night Out Gives Crime the Boot

ERMA – National Night Out is more than an evening of games, food, live music, displays of fire engines and pony rides.
National Night Out is a yearlong community building campaign designed to heighten crime prevention awareness, generate support and participation in local anti-crime programs, strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships.
It’s designed to send a message to criminals that our neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.
Lower Township Police Department is holding the 31st annual event Aug. 6 from 7 to 9 p.m. at Lower Cape May Regional High School, 687 Route 9, Erma.
The event will include live music from Kettle Three, a rock climbing wall, a dunk-an-officer tank, a SWAT truck, Fantasy Extreme Cheerleaders, a face painter, Cape Classic cars and Jersey Cape Cruisers and a K-9 unit from Delaware River and Bay Authority.
Lower Township Police School Resource Officer Mike Perry said the event is a night for the police department to give back to the community and bring a crime prevention message to neighborhoods. He said residents get to meet public safety personnel in a relaxed atmosphere.
Local businesses and organizations will also be on hand, many of which will have items to give away.
“This is a night for America to stand together and promote awareness, safety, and neighborhood unity. National Night Out showcases the vital importance of police-community partnerships and citizen involvement in our fight for a safer nation,” said Matt Peskin, national project coordinator. “On National Night Out we invite neighborhoods nationwide to join us and ‘give crime a going away party.’”
National Night Out involves over 37 million people and 15,000 communities from all 50 states, U.S. territories, Canadian cities and military bases worldwide.