The National Association of Town Watch (NATW) has published its 2016 ranking of U.S. cities who hosted National Night Out activities this year. This week, Arlington moves up one place to finish second in the national comparison of cities with populations greater than 300,000 people.
National Night Out is a celebration of police and community partnerships. Police departments around the country visit neighborhoods and encourage active participation in crime prevention efforts.
Over the past five years, Arlington has been surpassing large U.S. cities who plan and organize National Night Out activities. In 2015, the city placed third in the national ranking. According to the NATW, the rankings are based on a number of factors, including neighborhood participation, law enforcement involvement and overall quality of the marketing campaign.
Across the city on Tuesday Oct. 4, there were cook outs, block parties and gatherings on front lawns and in neighborhood parks. According to the Crime Prevention Unit, 196 community groups registered their activities with the department. Officers from across the visited with neighbors. The department's marketing campaign included social media, newspaper advertisements, a City Council proclamation, and a National Night Out Safety Fair.
"Arlington has always taken great pride with their National Night Out participation," said Arlington Police Chief Will Johnson. "As a community, National Night Out doesn't represent a singular event but rather a capstone event that highlights the level of community participation that occurs in our neighborhoods throughout the year."
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