National Night Out: Joining the fight against crime

Glendale and Burbank celebrate National Night Out on Aug. 2, an evening when citizens and businesses are encouraged to plan a barbeque, host a block party and feast on a potluck meal with neighbors outdoors.

The national event is designed to bring communities together and to get residents talking about how to assist their cities and police departments in standing against crime in their neighborhood. The National Assn. of Town Watch established the first night out in 1984 to grow a crime-watching community.

Last year, the national campaign had 37 million people in more than 15,000 communities in the United States and Canada get involved.

Burbank’s main National Night Out event, hosted by the Police, Park, Recreation and Community Services departments, will be from 5:30 to 8 p.m. on the Chandler Bikeway between Keystone Street and Brighton Street.

Residents and business owners throughout Burbank are encouraged meet at the bikeway or hold block parties and gatherings in their own front yards or outside their businesses.

In Glendale, residents have organized more than 40 events, the most in the city’s history, according to Glendale Police Sgt. John Gilkerson. Last year, 27 events were held throughout the city.

“The idea is to know your neighbor and to build a collation going after problems in your neighborhood,” he said.