Times/News

Block parties and other neighborhood events will celebrate the 22nd annual National Night Out - "America's night out against crime" - in the Highline area and across the country Tuesday, Aug. 2.

National Night Out is a crime and drug prevention event, sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch, which is celebrated community by community.

Margie Gibb, a Burien Block Watch captain, said about 40 of the city's 110 Block Watch neighborhoods are planning National Night Out events.

"Take a stand against crime ... to send a message to the criminal element that we will not tolerate crime in our community," she said.

Margie noted that she and her husband, Mayor Noel Gibb, again will host a National Night Out potluck in their neighborhood.

Applications for National Night Out events are available at Burien City Hall and the Southwest Precinct of the King County Sheriff's Office.

Police and fire fighters attend most National Night Out events.

Local law enforcement agencies encourage residents of neighborhoods throughout the Highline area to turn their porch lights on at 6 p.m. and leave them on all night as a signal to criminals to stay out of these neighborhoods.

The objectives of National Night Out are to heighten crime and drug prevention awareness; generate support for, and participation in, local anti crime programs; strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships; and send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.

Last year's National Night Out campaign involved citizens, law enforcement agencies, civic groups, businesses, neighborhood organizations and local officials from over 10,000 communities from all 50 states, U.S. territories, Canadian cities and military bases worldwide.

Over 34 million people participated in 2004.

The first National Night Out was held in 1984 in an effort to heighten awareness and strengthen participation in local anti crime efforts.

At that time, less than 10 percent of neighborhood residents were estimated to be participating in a typical "crime watch community."

The traditional "porch lights on" remains a hallmark of this anti crime event, but now includes block parties, cookouts, parades and safety fairs.

For more information about National Night Out, call:

Burien police, 206-296-3333.

Des Moines police, 206-878-3301.

Normandy Park police, 206-248-7600.

SeaTac police, 206-296-3333.

Tukwila police, 206-242-8084.

King County Sheriff's Office, Southwest Precinct, 206-296-3333.