Highline-area residents will join citizens in thousands of communities nationwide on Tuesday, Aug. 7, for the 24th annual National Night Out crime-and-drug prevention event.

The Des Moines Police Department will kick off National Night Out a day early with the "Des Moines Walk Against Crime" on Aug. 6.

Participants are asked to assemble at the Public Works Building, 2255 S. 223rd St., where registration and signs will be made for the walk.

A police department announcement said a walk was chosen to kick off National Night Out "because we believe that every citizen of Des Moines has the right to feel safe in their community and home.

"Residents are urged to take this opportunity to show a united front against crime. This is a time to celebrate the partnerships we have already established and to bring more people into preventing crime in our city."

On Tuesday from 5 to 10 p.m., residents in all Highline communities will lock their doors, turn on their outside lights and spend the evening getting better acquainted with their neighbors.

Neighborhood events include block parties, potluck dinners, cookouts, games and informational sessions, all designed to heighten crime and drug prevention awareness, strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships, and send a message to criminals that neighbors are organized and fighting back.

Police officers, sheriff's deputies, firefighters and elected city officials will take part in many of Highline's National Night Out activities.

National Night Out is sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch and co-sponsored locally by the city police and fire departments and the King County Sheriff's Office.

Over 35 million people in more than 11,000 communities participate in National Night Out throughout the United States, U.S. possessions, Canada and on American military bases worldwide to promote police-community partnerships, crime and drug prevention, and neighborhood unity.

The first National Night Out Against Crime to heighten awareness of and strengthen citizen participation in local anti-crime efforts was held in 1984, with 400 communities and 2.5 million people in 23 states participating.

At that time, according to the National Night Out Web site (www.nationalnightout.org), only 5 to 7 percent of residents an a typical "crime watch community" were participating actively in neighborhood anti-crime programs.

Since then, the event's promotion of police-community partnerships and crime prevention has helped to make many neighborhoods safer throughout the year.

For more information about Highline-area National Night Out activities, call local police departments in:

Burien/North Highline unincorporated area (police and King County Sheriff's Office), 206-296-3333.

Des Moines, 206-878-3301.

Normandy Park, 206-248-7600.

SeaTac, 206.973.4900.

Tukwila, 206 433-1808.