Attention all neighborhoods: On August 4 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., neighborhoods throughout Charles County are being invited to team up with thousands of communities nationwide for National Night Out. Sheriff Troy Berry and members of the CCSO will join residents to celebrate the community’s alliance against crime, drugs and violence. Representatives from Charles County Crime Solvers, Explorers Post #1658 and even McGruff the Crime Dog and McGruff’s nephew Scruff will be on hand to meet residents.

The National Association of Town Watch (NATW) launched National Night Out 32 years ago. According to the website, NATW.org, “National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods a safer, better place to live.”

Many neighborhoods will host block parties with food, games, a CCSO-sponsored coloring contest and other activities while others will light their porch lights to demonstrate their support for NNO. “National Night Out strengthens the relationship between law enforcement and the neighborhoods we serve and protect, while at the same time gives residents a chance to personally meet some of the officers who patrol their neighborhoods,” said Sheriff Berry. “This is a great opportunity for citizens and officers to interact and together take a stand against crime.”

For 20 consecutive years, the National Association of Town Watch has recognized Charles County’s participation by awarding the agency its Category II Award for Community Participation. In 2014, 156 neighborhoods in Charles County participated in National Night Out.

To find out if your neighborhood is participating, to register your neighborhood to participate, or to make a donation to NNO, contact Community Organizer Connie Gray at 301-932-3080.

The Charles County Sheriff’s Office is a full-service law enforcement agency comprised of more than 600 police, corrections and civilian personnel responsible for protecting more than 150,000 residents. The CCSO was accredited by the Commission on the Accreditation of Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) in 2001 has been designated as a CALEA Gold Standard of Excellence agency since 2011. Established in 1658, the CCSO is one of the oldest law enforcement agencies in the United States. For more information, visit www.ccso.us.      

Media Contact
Janelle Love
301-609-6538
lovej@ccso.us