Local & State Headlines

Officials prep for National Night Out

• National Night Out began 25 years ago and has grown to incorporate more than 35 million people, organizers say.

Joshua Brown

ALBANY — A message to all criminals, thugs, gang members and general hooligans of the area: public safety and neighborhood watch groups are partnering with local businesses to throw you all a party Tuesday. A going away party.

Part of an international crime awareness initiative, local government agencies, community groups and business are having block parties and celebrations across the city Tuesday to coincide with the National Night Out observance.

“Symbolically it’s a going away party for the criminal element in our community,” Dougherty County Police Chief Don Cheek said. “From a practical standpoint, it’s an event that allows the community and police to improve relations to send a unified message to criminals that the people are taking back their neighborhoods.”

Kicking off with a carnival at Target on Dawson Road at 2 p.m. Tuesday, events will take place all over the city; in every police district, and at Radium Middle School, organizers say.

Originally started 25 years ago, the National Night Out event has grown to include towns across the U.S. and Canada, garnering more than 35 million participants last year.

It’s objective is simple, organizers say. Build new and stronger contacts in the community while increasing public awareness in hopes to thwart crime.

“This will hopefully create a better relationship between officers and the citizens with the ultimate goal of presenting a unified front to fight crime in this community,” APD spokesperson Phyllis Banks said.

Cheek, who spent years working the streets of Albany as a detective, before eventually taking the reigns of the DCP, the event allows officers to work towards changing the perception of police by the public.

“It’s a true statement that most people only come into contact with police if they or a loved one is having a bad day,” Cheek said. “These types of events allow us to put on a different, less adversarial hat, and show the public that we aren’t the bad guys.”

From 2 to 4 p.m. at Target, the Marine Corps Band, along with the mascots from the South Georgia Wildcats, Chick-Fil-A and Duncan D. Trash will be on hand and displays, games, food and some gifts will be given to area children.

After the kickoff, the DCP, the Dougherty County Sheriff’s Office, the Albany Fire Department and the Dougherty County Schools Police will continue their activities from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Radium Springs Middle School.

Events at the City of Albany’s East, West and Central district headquarters will coincide with the county events.

With the public perception of a growing crime problem and recent media accounts of frustrations between the public and the Albany Police Department, Banks believes its important that they take every opportunity to get out and speak with members of the community.

“People need to know that they can trust police officers and be assured that they’re going to be there when they call,” Banks said. “Our officers are doing their best to fight crime. It’s a two-way street, we need the public just as much as they need us to fight crime.”

For more information about the National Night Out activities planned for Tuesday, call the Dougherty County Police at 430-6600 or the Albany Police Department at 431-2100.

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