Residents urged to take back the night

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July 3, 2009

National campaign launches Aug. 4

By Brian Livingston The Meridian Star Fri Jul 03, 2009, 08:22 PM CDT

A recent conversation between Lauderdale County Sheriff's Department Chief Dep. Ward Calhoun and department DUI Enforcement Officer Dep. Kris Cokel went something like this.

"Hey Chief," said Cokel. "When are we going to do something like the Night Out Against Crime programs a lot of other departments put on each year?"

"You know," responded Calhoun. "I've been thinking about that for some time now. What do you propose?"

"I don't know. At the department I was with in Washington state we used to do it each year along with the national dates and it was a good thing," said Cokel.

"Well then," Calhoun said turning to Cokel. "It's your baby. Run with it!"

A few weeks later Cokel finds himself trying to organize several law enforcement agencies, county fire and rescue departments, as well as law enforcement and traffic safety demonstrations in preparation for the first National Night Out Against Crime in Lauderdale County. As with all first time events Cokel isn't quite sure how this will turn out but he is determined to make a great first impression.

"It's a lot more work than I thought it would be but, 'I'm all in,'" said Cokel Monday using the famous Texas Hold'em poker term. "There are going to be a lot of neat things there for the kids and parents as well. I hope everyone decides to come and support this nationwide event on the local level."

The "26th Annual National Night Out" (NNO), a unique crime/drug prevention event sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch (NATW), has been scheduled for Tuesday, August 4. Cokel said this year's inaugural event will be held on the West Lauderdale High School campus following an emergency vehicle parade down Richard May Memorial Road. The event will begin at 6 p.m. and run until 9 p.m.

NNO has proven to be an effective, inexpensive and enjoyable program to promote neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships in our fight for a safer nation. Last year's NNO campaign involved citizens, law enforcement agencies, civic groups, businesses, neighborhood organizations and local officials from over 15,000 communities from all 50 states, U.S. territories, Canadian cities and military bases worldwide. In all, more than 37 million people participated in National Night Out 2008.

National Night Out, 'America's Night Out Against Crime,' was introduced by the NATW in 1984. The program was the brainchild of NATW Executive Director Matt A. Peskin.

Peskin said, "It's a wonderful opportunity for communities nationwide to promote police-community partnerships, crime prevention, and neighborhood camaraderie. While the one night is certainly not an answer to crime, drugs and violence, National Night Out does represent the kind of spirit, energy and determination that is helping to make many neighborhoods safer places throughout the year. It [NNO] is a night to celebrate safety and crime prevention successes - and to expand and strengthen programs for the next 364 days."

Cokel said this year's event will have demonstrations from K-9 officers, the Jaws of Life, the "Convincer" and vehicle rollover simulators. There also will be a wide variety of emergency vehicles for the kids to interact with including blowing the sirens and running the lights.

A dunking tank Identi-Kid Kits, McGruff the Crime Dog and Sparky the Fire Dog will also be on hand. Hamburgers and hot dogs will be prepared for sale with the proceeds going to next year's Relay for Life campaign.

"I hope everyone will come out and enjoy all the things we have in store for them," said Cokel. "We've worked hard to bring this together and I think it will show. It is also a good opportunity for the community to say, 'We are in control of our neighborhoods, not the criminals.'"

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