The National Association of Town Watch (NATW) is a nonprofit, crime prevention organization dedicated to promoting various crime prevention programs. NATW works in cooperation with thousands of crime watch groups and law enforcement agencies throughout the country and has grown to include over 6,000 crime, drug and violence prevention organizations. National Night Out, 'America's Night Out Against Crime,' was introduced by the Association in 1984. The program was developed by NATW Executive Director Matt A. Peskin. The program began as an effort to promote involvement in crime prevention activities and police- community partnerships. NATW’s National Night Out program culminates annually, on the first Tuesday of August. This year, on August 6, 2013, communities across the country participated in the event. Some communities, including Minneapolis, used the event to address frayed relationships with citizens. Community residents participating in these programs generally gave positive feedback to police departments. To read more about the NATW and National Night out events, go to: http://www.natw.org/ To read more about residents reactions to the National Night Out event in Minneapolis, go to:http://www.startribune.com/local/minneapolis/218568251.html?page=1&c=y
From the Archive