Police departments offer a night out against crime

MOSES LAKE - Moses Lake, Ephrata and Quincy police are taking part in National Night Out on Tuesday.

It is a series of events to enhance awareness of crime prevention.

More than 36 million citizens, civic groups, businesses, neighborhood organizations and officials in 16,000 communities are expected to celebrate the event nationwide for the 28th year.

Moses Lake has taken part nearly every year since at least 1997, according to Moses Lake Police Specialist Bob Carpenter, who helps organize the event.

"Our goal is to make the public aware and try to get people more involved with the police department," Carpenter said. "It's a good way to heighten crime prevention and support local block watch programs."

The city holds its National Night Out event downtown at Sinkiuse Square on Tuesday at 7 p.m..

Music is provided by the Centennial Band.

The Firefly Cafe offers a limited amount of free ice cream and hot dogs. The restaurant is on Third Avenue, near Ash Street, Carpenter said.

Crime prevention and child safety information will be available as well as fingerprinting for children ages 3-13.

Car seats will be inspected to make sure they're adequate and to discover potential recall notices.

While Moses Lake Police Chief Dean Mitchell holds public safety forums a few times a year, Carpenter said the turnout is sometimes disappointing and National Night Out offers another avenue for reminding city residents to stay alert.

"One of Chief Mitchell's favorite sayings is that he'd rather have us answer ten false alarms than one where a burglary has occurred," Carpenter said. "If people see something suspicious they should call it in."

Other communities are holding National Night Out events of their own on Tuesday.

In Ephrata, the Grant County Department of Corrections office is organizing a night out event from 4-9 p.m. in the agency parking lot at 229 First Avenue Northwest.

This is the third year the agency organized the event, which involves the Grant County Sheriff's Office, Ephrata Police Department and Ephrata fire fighters, said Donna Smith with the Ephrata Department of Corrections office.

There will be activities such as face painting, sack races and a chance to meet K-9 police dogs, Smith said.

Quincy is holding a National Night Out event for the first time at Quincy Junior High School from 4-8 p.m.

The city is sponsoring a free barbecue downtown with kids games and safety education activities organized by Quincy Fire District 3. Individual block parties are being organized throughout Quincy.

Sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch, National Night Out is designed to heighten crime and drug prevention awareness, generate support for anticrime programs, strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships, according to the organization's web site.

For more information on National Night Out visit www.nationaltownwatch.org/nno.