Tri-parish celebrations set for Night Out Against Crime anniversary

Published 1:27 pm Friday, October 11, 2013

LAPLACE –  On Tuesday, residents of the River Parishes are encouraged to turn on their porch lights and criminals know that their neighborhood will not sit quietly and let crime take place under their watch.
Tuesday will mark the 30th anniversary of the National Night Out Against Crime. The event is sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch, and is intended to heighten crime awareness and drug prevention, generate support and participation in local anti-crime efforts, strengthen neighborhood spirit and police/community relations, and send a message to criminals letting them know neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.
The three parishes of St. John the Baptist, St. James and St. Charles are expected to be inundated with dozens of block parties, cookouts and flashlight walks. The celebrations were moved from August to October in 2010 to take advantage of cooler temperatures .
A National Night Out Kick Off Party will take place on Sunday, Oct. 13, at Laketown in Kenner, where Williams Boulevard meets Lake Pontchartrain, from 2:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. The event will feature free admission, food and entertainment. Demonstrations and attractions will be conducted by area law enforcement agencies.
In St. John Parish, festivities will run from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Parish officials request that residents register their parties online at www.stjohnsheriff.org or call 985-652-7058.
The theme for St. Charles Parish this year is “Giving Crime & Drugs a Going Away Party.” Festivities will run from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Those who planned a neighborhood party should already have contacted Susie Gauthier at 985-783-1355 to register. The deadline to register was Monday, Oct. 7. 
The party will also run until 9 p.m. in St. James Parish. Residents who are holding parties, or wish to organize an officer visit in their neighborhood are encouraged to contact Capt. Craig Poche at 225- 562-2203, or by email on the St. James Parish Sheriff’s Office website. Party hosts can also register their events on the sheriff’s department website, www.stjamessheriff.com