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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Night to unite

Activities bring neighbors together to fight crime

Neighbors and good food fill the 1100 block of West 9th in 2007 as part of the National Night Out Against Crime.  (CHRISTOPHER ANDERSON / The Spokesman-Review)

Residents throughout the region will come together Tuesday and take a stand against crime. Now in its ninth year, National Night Out has brought neighborhoods together through barbecues and potlucks, with people socializing and making a plan to keep their homes and streets safe.

South Hill resident Patricia Hansen hosts one of Spokane’s largest NNO parties, with nearly 250 attendees in 2007. She said she only expected around 100 people, but the number grew very fast. “I was pleasantly surprised,” she said.

Hansen expects between 300 and 400 people this year. Her neighborhood also has one of the largest Block Watch groups. The Lower South Hill Neighborhood Watch stretches from 11th Avenue to Fifth Avenue.

Virginia Litzenburger, a 92-year-old North Side resident, has hosted a NNO party since it began in Spokane in 2000. “National Night Out helps hold our block together,” she said.

National Night Out began in 1984 and was introduced by the National Association of Town Watch, a nonprofit crime-prevention organization that works with crime-watch groups and law enforcement agencies throughout the U.S. The director of NATW, Matt Peskin, created NNO to heighten awareness and strengthen participation in local anticrime efforts. In its first year, 400 communities in 23 states participated, with a total of 2.5 million American attendants. In 2007, the number grew to 3.4 million people in 11,310 communities in all 50 states, according to www.natw.org.

Spokane averages 120 to 130 NNO parties per year, as does Spokane County. Spokane is listed in the top 10 for being the most active in National Night Out, in a range of 100,000 to 200,000 top participating cities.

Maurece Vulcano, the program coordinator for Spokane Community Oriented Policing Services, or COPS, describes NNO as a partnership between law enforcement and the community, making every effort to rid Spokane of crime.

“We are the ones that live in our neighborhoods, we are the ones who see what’s going on. We know who to call in what situation, to help correct the situation,” Vulcano said.

Spokane Community Oriented Policing Effort, or SCOPE, and Neighborhood Watch are the community crime prevention programs in Spokane County. “Without the involvement of SCOPE and Neighborhood Watch, so many programs wouldn’t be so successful, wouldn’t function the way they do,” said Diana Somerville, the director of Neighborhood Watch.

The director of SCOPE, Rick Scott, depends on NNO. “It’s a celebration; a way to make contact with community members,” he said.

Target is one of the largest sponsors for NNO. On Spokane’s North Side, Target at 9770 N. Newport Highway will block off a large portion of its parking lot for the Spokane Fire Department, Spokane Police Department and COPS to set up resource and information exhibits. Hot dogs, chips and drinks will be available, as well as kids activities, including sail boat races by the Coast Guard, balloon animals and a foosball/air hockey table. There also will be visits from local law enforcement, city officials and McGruff the Crime Dog.

Target in Spokane Valley, 13724 E. Sprague Ave., also will have a party. It will include a bicycle rodeo, bicycle safety information and an inflatable basketball hoop for the kids. SCOPE and local law enforcement will have “Operation Family I.D.” at the sponsor’s party, which will footprint babies, and ID children, adults and senior citizens. And, of course, there also will be a barbecue with hot dogs, chips and drinks, and appearances by the Spokane Valley Fire Department, Spokane Valley Police Department, elected officials and McGruff.

Along with Target and community neighborhoods all over Spokane and Spokane County, churches, neighborhood councils and a Spokane hospital have registered to have parties and bring local communities together to fight crime. Tenants of the Richard Allen Apartments on the lower South Hill requested a visit from the Spokane Lilac Queen and her Court for their National Night Out party to entertain the younger residents who dress in princess attire and wear tiaras. To fight crime in your neighborhood, call Vulcano at COPS at 835-4572 or visit www.spokanecope.org; Rick Scott at SCOPE at 477-4717 or visit www.spokanevalleyonline.com/scope; or Diana Somerville at 477-3055 Neighborhood Watch or visit www.spokanesheriff.org.

Rainey Coffin can be reached at 927-2166 or via e-mail at raineyc@spokesman.com.