Four decades ago, 2.5 million people in 400 communities in 23 states throughout the U.S. took part in the first National Night Out, an event created to bring together emergency responders and the residents they serve.
The annual event on Tuesday in Watsonville drew hundreds of neighbors to take part in games, arts and crafts, share meals, and enjoy staged performances by local dance and folk groups, while engaging with local police.
Since its creation, National Night Out Against Crime has become a venue for people to meet their local police officers and city officials, and to learn how to organize against crime.
The night has also become a way for communities to show criminals that they are organized.
More than 37 million people from more than 16,000 communities throughout the U.S. and Canada celebrated the event last year, in addition to military bases worldwide.
Watsonville residents took up the tradition 17 years ago, and the city now boasts events at nearly two dozen locations throughout the city.
This year, Watsonville Police joined the California Highway Patrol, Fire Departments, Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s deputies, Cal Fire, American Medical Response and scores of other first responders in the three-hour event around the county. Numerous other agencies and groups also set up tables including the YMCA, Monarch Services, Watsonville Public Library, Jovenes Sanos and many more.
