Hays County And San Marcos National Night Out

San Marcos residents are invited to participate in the 2016 National Night Out (NNO) on Tuesday, Oct. 4, by visiting with neighbors, police officers, EMS personnel, firefighters, and City officials to advance crime prevention in the community.

Neighborhoods that are interested in participating in National Night Out should contact Corporal Scott Johnson at 512.754.2271 or use the registration links at www.sanmarcostx.gov/nno by Sept. 30, 2016.

During National Night Out, neighborhoods host porch-sitting and “lights on” areas and sponsor special events such as block parties, cookouts, parades, visits from law enforcement, rallies and marches.

“Crimes are solved three ways:  By officers observing a crime in progress, through physical evidence, and by receiving tips from citizens,” said San Marcos Police Chief Chase Stapp. “By far, the most reliable of these are the tips from citizens.  National Night Out gives us the opportunity to get to know the citizens we serve better and meet them in their neighborhood.  It also opens the lines of communication between citizens and our department.”

This year, the San Marcos Police Department is teaming up with the San Marcos Fire Department for a kick off event at the San Marcos Fire Department Open House a few days before National Night Out.  The event will be held on Saturday, Oct. 1 from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.at Fire Station 5 at 100 Carlson Circle and will including a static display of the San Marcos/Hays County SWAT team’s search and rescue vehicles, activities, hot dogs, and prizes for the kids.  You can follow the National Night Out San Marcos Event on the San Marcos Police Department Facebook page at www.facebook.com/smcpa or www.facebook.com/events/732849503520511/ .

The nationwide program is a popular and effective vehicle for heightening awareness of crime prevention strategies, enhancing police-community relations, and bolstering volunteer morale.

During past NNO events, participants have included Hills of Hays, The Wellington, Mariposa Apartment Homes, Stone Brook, Willow Creek, CM Allen Homes, Blanco Vista, Chapultepec Homes, Allenwood Homes, Savannah Club, Oak Heights, Ridgeway, Hughson Heights, Harper Street/River Road, Sierra Circle, Castle Forest, Franklin Square, Pearce Court,  Springtown Villas, Victory Gardens, Country Oaks Apartments, Westover Mobile Home Park, Mockingbird  & Pulte Subdivision, Blanco River Village, and Purgatory Creek Apartments.

The National Association of Town Watch (NATW) is a non-profit organization dedicated to the development and promotion of organized, law enforcement-affiliated crime and drug prevention programs. Members include: Neighborhood, Crime, Community, Town and Block Watch Groups; law enforcement agencies; state and regional crime prevention associations; and a variety of businesses, civic groups and concerned individuals working to make their communities safer places in which to live and work.

Since 1981, NATW’s center of information, programs and technical assistance has worked with law enforcement and civilian leaders to keep volunteers interested, involved and motivated.