The National Night Out against crime marks its 25th year tomorrow, says the Seattle Times. “We need the community’s help to prevent and solve crimes,” says Jeffrey Kappel, a spokesman for the Seattle Police Department. “The police department can’t do it alone.”
The national event started in 1984 with about 400 communities, says the National Association of Town Watch, a nonprofit based in Wynnewood, Pa. More than 12,000 communities are expected to participate this year. “When you talk about fear, most of us are the good guys, and yet we tend to retreat when it comes to crime,” says Matt Peskin, the nonprofit’s director. “This was designed to bring people together.” Several communities are not participating in National Night Out this year to protest against how much Peskin, takes in — $322,000 in salary and benefits, says the Minneapolis Star Tribune.
Link: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008089950_nightout04m.html