The National Town Watch Association recently awarded the Kent Police Department third in the nation for its participation in the 26th National Night Out Aug. 4.
Kent took the award for cities with a population between 50,000 and 99,999. Kent has a population of more than 86,000.
Kent had 90 related events take place National Night Out. An estimated 9,000 people attended the events. The city submitted a comprehensive award application to be considered.
The event is designed to reduce crime by bringing neighbors together to get to know each other and the community better. City employees visited many of the potlucks, barbecues and other events hosted by neighborhoods.
“It is impossible for police officers to be everywhere all the time, and criminals don’t commit crimes when a patrol officer is there,” said Kent Police Chief Steve Strachan in a Dec. 1 city media release. “The community is the eyes and ears of any police department. National Night Out gives us the opportunity to say thanks to those that help us do our jobs every day.”
National Night Out is scheduled for Aug. 3 in 2010. Kent will fall under a new population category as the city annexes the Panther Lake area, approximately 25,000 people, next July 1.
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