The streets of Lansing neighborhoods were filled with residents and police officers on Tuesday evening as they gathered to join a nationwide effort to cut crime and make neighborhoods safer to live in.
The event, known as National Night Out, had communities from all 50 states come together to support local police departments and Neighborhood Watch organizations, along with raising crime prevention awareness.
This year marks the 20th annual night out, with more than 33 million people across the country participating from 9,800 communities. Residents were encouraged to turn on their porch lights, lock their doors and spend the evening with neighbors and police officers by having potlucks and cookouts while learning the benefits of neighborhood watch programs.
"It's not often you can get this many people together and have a barbeque," said Carrie Hargrove, a Lansing resident and Neighborhood Watch coordinator. "You get to meet all your neighbors."
The front of Hargrove's house was lined with picnic tables, food and a few neighbors who came to see what it was all about. This was Hargrove's second time hosting a potluck during the event.
One of those neighbors visiting Hargrove's party, Ruth Darrow, just moved back to the Lansing area and decided she wanted to get involved with the local Neighborhood Watch.
"It makes (neighbors) closer," she said. "There's better communication."
Lonnie Whitehill and Patty Farhat, members of the Neighborhood Watch Advisory Board, came out to Hargroves' house to see how the party was going.
"We're making our rounds and visiting different parties," Farhat said. "We're out here to thank them."
The advisory board oversees the coordinators of the Neighborhood Watch program.
The event also is designed to strengthen partnerships between the police and community, said Lt. Bruce Ferguson, public information officer for the Lansing Police Department. He said he hopes the event will encourage people to meet their neighbors and become involved in Neighborhood Watch programs.
"If people get organized and clean up their neighborhood, it's hard for crime to take over," Ferguson said.
Lansing has 128 Neighborhood Watch groups with more than 8,600 members.
"The more people that are involved in Neighborhood Watch and look out for each other, the less chance of crime taking over the neighborhood," Ferguson said.
