National Night Out is a celebration of the victories shared between the community and the police. Throughout the year, our department works with the community to solve problems, build partnerships and increase the overall quality of life.

It is important to set a day aside and reflect on what the community and department have done together. National Night Out provides an outstanding opportunity for the community to visit with officers from the department, get to know new faces and reunite with officers whom the community members may not have seen in a while.

More importantly, National Night Out is an opportunity to expand our partnerships. The law enforcement profession recognizes that crime deterrence and detection cannot be done alone. Therefore, National Night Out not only celebrates our accomplishments, but it gives us the opportunity to show ourselves to citizens who may have been hesitant to join the crime fighting team.

By getting to see us and speaking with us, citizens may realize that they can become part of a powerful force and assist both the police and community they live in. Every citizen can make a difference in the community in which they live.

In closing, National Night Out is just one day. The partnerships built as a result of this one-day event last all year. On Aug. 3, 2010, I encourage all citizens of Suffolk to attend their community events.

If your community is not having an event, then meet with your neighbors and get to know them. Neighbors getting together eventually grow into community associations and ultimately another partner in our ability to deter and detect crime.

Have a safe and enjoyable National Night Out.