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2008 National Night Out in the Nation’s Backyard washington, dc and the national capital region Highlights from This Year’s Celebration The regional effort to put on a celebration worthy of 25 years came off without a hitch this year … agencies from across the Washington region showed their cooperative spirit and creat- ed a memorable event on The National Mall as well as exciting neighborhood activities across the area on Tuesday, August 5. The weather cooperated, residents came out to thank their police, and communities spent the evening greeting one another and enjoy- ing the atmosphere that National Night Out generates each Au- gust. Congratulations on a job well done! Number of events: Approximately 350 Approximate attendance: 50,000+ Media Coverage: Excellent Hot Dogs Eaten: Thousands! Water Consumed: 45,000 bottles Hugs Received, Knight: 12,234 Hugs Received, Bullseye: 12,234 Smiles Generated: Hundreds of Thousands Porch Lights Turned On: 452,223 —The National Night Out Planning Team Coming Together as a Region my-award winner Jonny Lang, who closed the show. Between performances on stage, The Kickoff were treated to a host of entertain- the audience listened to brief re- ment and activities, including live marks from Matt Peskin, founder ashington, DC and its music on a 40 x 100-foot stage set of National Night Out and head of surrounding jurisdic- up with the Capitol as the backdrop, NATW, Metropolitan Police Chief Wtions celebrated the 25th free children’s activities, a display Cathy L. Lanier, Congresswoman National Night Out as one region on of police vehicles, and a Commu- Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), US August 5, 2008, as various local, re- nity Policing Showcase staffed by 19 Attorney for the District of Colum- gional, and federal law enforcement law enforcement agencies and the bia Jeffrey Taylor, and Major Gen- agencies joined forces and mount- NATW, the parent organization of eral Errol Schwartz, commander of ed a kickoff on the National Mall. National Night Out. the DC National Guard. Each of the The event drew thousands of resi- The line-up of entertainment on speakers provided their perspective dents and tourists to the grassy strip stage included a host of local musi- of the importance and impact that between 4th and 7th Streets, just a cal talents, including crowd favorites NNO has had on our communities stone’s throw from the United States Origem and Mambo Sauce — both and the nation throughout its 25- Capitol and surrounded by museums originating from the District — and year history. and memorials. Visitors to the Mall national recording artist, and Gram- NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION • 2008 NATIONAL NIGHT OUT POST-EVENT REPORT dia, with seven camera crews, three print reporters, and two radio teams covering the conference. The Main Event The morning of Tuesday, Au- gust 5 dawned bright over the Cap- itol’s dome, heralding a good day ahead for the festivities planned just blocks away. Early in the day, agen- cies began arriving to set up their booths in the Community Policing A contingent of Honor Guard members from the US Park Police presented the Colors to mark Showcase. Others arrived with their the beginning of the evening. They were joined by Guards from a dozen other law enforcement colorful vehicles ready to display agencies. The presentation was followed by a medley of tunes courtesy of the DC Police Pipes and Drums. on the gravel paths lining the Mall from the stage to 7th Street. Just af- Two large Jumbotron LED dis- gathered in front of the stage to hold ter 10 am, the helicopters from the plays flanked the stage, providing a press conference and media avail- US Park Police and Metropolitan Po- the crowd with an easier view of the ability to help raise awareness of Na- lice Department touched down on speakers and entertainers. tional Night Out and invite the public the western parcel of the event site. The energy and excitement began to come out the next day for the free A crowd quickly gathered around to build early on the Saturday prior to entertainment and activities. The ac- each of them and generated interest National Night Out as preparations tivity behind the podium provided in the event throughout the day. Of- were underway to set up the massive the perfect backdrop for the press ficers reported having hundreds of stage, sound equipment, and other el- event and the weather was spectacu- visitors climb in, take photographs ements of the production. Tents were lar. At the 10 am press event, the ther- being erected, signage was going up, mometer barely and things began to take shape along measeured 80 de- the three-block stretch of The Mall. grees and there The gates identifying the 25th an- was a light breeze niversary drew the interest of tour- blowing across the ists and locals alike as setup teams grassy field be- worked throughout the day. tween the Natio- inal Gallery of Art Pre-Event Media Day and the Air and Space Museum. On Monday morning, represen- The event The Metropolitan Police Department’s Mobile Operations Center was tatives from more than 25 local and drew a good one of six similar vehicles on display from law enforcement agencies. federal law enforcement agencies showing of me- One staff person said that more than 300 people toured his vehicle. NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION • 2008 NATIONAL NIGHT OUT POST-EVENT REPORT 4 loted by members of the Metropol- itan Police, Fairfax County Police, and DC National Guard Drug De- mand Reduction air support units. The show officially began with the introduction of the emcee for the event, Andrea Roane, a news anchor with WUSA-9 TV (CBS). Ms. Roane introduced Chief Cathy L. Lanier, the head of the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, DC. Chief Lanier highlighted the impor- tance that National Night Out played here in the nation’s capital and how it enables her agency to engage the residents of Washington, DC and give them a chance to see the police The Mall played a fitting host to this year’s National Night Out. In early January, organizers envi- in a different light than they typically sioned a “national” kick-off to highlight the 25th anniversary. In addition to great entertainment, do. Lanier then introduced Matt Pe- the gathered crowd got a taste of the diverse ways in which law enforcement in the Washington skin, director of the National Asso- region interacts with their communities. ciation of Town Watch. with, and show their interest in law forcement in presenting the Colors, Peskin, the man who spearhead- enforcement and the work they do followed by a rousing rendition of the ed the creation of National Night each day. National Anthem by Officer Christi- Out in 1984, talked about the im- By pm, most of the exhibitors na Evans of the U.S. Park Police. The portance of building partnerships were ready to greet visitors and ex- D.C. Police Pipes and Drum Corps between police and the communities plain the various ways in which law provided a brief, somber medley of they serve and the history of his or- enforcement agencies engage and ceremonial tunes which introduced ganization. From its humble begin- serve their communities. The crowd the crowd to a spoken tribute to the nings in Philadelphia, the event now began to grow and by 4 pm, when men and women of law enforcement engages more than 5 million peo- the kick-off officially started, the who have given their lives in service ple across the United States, military Mall was swarming with tourists to their communities, presented by bases, and foreign posts around the and residents from across the region the National Law Enforcement Of- world. He expressed his gratitude to who came out to see what NNO was ficers Memorial, located just five the men and women who wear the all about. blocks north of the stage. This Mo- badge with pride an explained how The official program started at ment of Silence was accompanied by NNO started out as a way to thank 4 pm with a brief greeting from off beautiful images of the granite Me- our police officers for their service. stage, announcing the beginning of morial and the thousands of names After Peskin’s brief remarks, the the event. The US Park Police Hon- inscribed on its walls. The tribute music began, with a performance or Guard led a procession of honor was punctuated by a flyover of three by the Washington Performing Arts guards from local and federal law en- helicopters just over the stage — pi- Center Children’s Gospel Choir, fol- NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION • 2008 NATIONAL NIGHT OUT POST-EVENT REPORT 5 Law enforcement agencies and partners from across the region came together to produce the “Community Policing Showcase” to highlight their efforts to prevent and solve crime through strong relationships with the communities they serve. The booths were varied in their presentation, but each provided a sense of the positive initiatives and programs the agencies are doing to reduce crime throughout the Wash- ington area. and United States Attorney for the been performing Samba, Bossa lowed by the neo-soul stylings of District of Columbia Jeffrey Taylor. Nova, Forro, Afoxe and Maracatu local talent April Sampe. Sampe’s Both spoke on the evening’s theme in the Washington area for over 15 0-minute show included such hits of building community partnerships years. as, “My Favorite Things,” “The Be- and the important role citizens can Origem’s lively beat continued ginning,” and “Go Home.” play in providing information to with the crowd-building sounds During a brief set change at police when they know something of the Urban Nation H.I.P.-H.O.P.

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