Community to Gather for a Night Out Against Crime

It’s a night dedicated to communities nationwide. On Aug. 2, East Windsor will join  towns and cities across the U.S. in a collaborative effort to make communities safer with the annual National Night Out.

This will be East Windsor’s 14th year participating in the event, which is designed to “heighten crime and drug prevention awareness, generate support for, and participation in, local anticrime programs, strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships, and send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back,” according to the event’s website

The event, sponsored by Mayor Janice Mironov, members of the Township Council and the East Windsor Police Department, features free activities designed to bring crime awareness to the community. The night runs from 6 to 9 p.m. at the East Windsor , at 30 Airport Road.

East Windsor’s National Night Out promises a number of demonstrations, giveaways and live entertainment. The theme revolves around engaging the community in prevention and safety, with child car seat inspections, Red Cross demonstrations and medical services, and fire and police equipment on display. Patrons can also see prevention at work, with a fire hose presentation and a demonstration by a canine trained to detect illegal drugs. Other businesses and groups will provide giveaways and information at various booths.

Not everything is crime-themed. New Jersey Radio 101.5 will provide music and prizes, and there will also be a moon bounce and rock-climbing wall. Local bands will also perform. Children can receive identification cards and get their faces painted.

National Night Out was initiated in 1984 by the National Association of Town Watch, a nonprofit, crime prevention organization. Since its advent, the event’s participation has blossomed from 2.5 million nationwide its first year, to last year’s more than 37 million participants in the U.S., Canadian cities and military bases nationwide, according to the organization’s website. 

Mayor Mironov explained East Windsor’s continued support of National Night Out in a press release: “East Windsor Township is committed to strengthening neighborhood unity and police and community partnerships to help deter crime and to enhance our local quality of life,” she said.