SAN ANGELO, Texas — For almost 40 years, the first Tuesday in October has meant something special for law enforcement and neighborhoods across the country. (No, not tacos.)
National Night Out is “an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods safer, more caring places to live,” according to its website.
The San Angelo Police Department will be participating this year by organizing a sort of block party/hot dog cookout/festival from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 4. at San Angelo Stadium.
“We’re gonna have a variety of awesome stuff there at the stadium this year,” SAPD Public Information Officer Richard Espinoza said. “We’re gonna have our Lake View cheerleaders, our Central cheerleaders, we’re gonna have the ASU cheerleaders out there as well, we’re gonna have a variety of law enforcement agencies to include the game warden, San Angelo Police Department, the sheriff’s office, city marshals, ASU PD and a variety of other ones as well too.”
The event is free and open to the public, and will not only offer adults a chance to get to know the men and women of the SAPD (without the involvement of handcuffs) but it will offer children plenty to do as well.
“We’re gonna have a variety of things, including a bounce house as well as a kid-friendly DJ, and we’re also gonna have a train that was graciously donated to us by the Railway Museum for the children to be able to ride, free-of-charge of course,” Espinoza said.
Since its beginnings in the 1980s, NNO has spread across all 50 states and there are now almost 300 cities participating in Texas alone.
In addition to Abilene and San Angelo, Espinoza said the community of Wall will have its own meet-up from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 4 at Wall Brethren Church.