For years, National Night Out has been a time for the public and law enforcement to come together as one. And while Sedona has hosted the event many times, this year’s celebration will be a bit different. Things will take place Saturday, Oct. 5, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at West Sedona School.
The Sedona Police Department will be teaming up with West Sedona School to host Wildcat Carnival, which will feature the normal National Night Out displays and presentations as well as the carnival side with rides, bouncy houses, silent auction and prizes.
“National Night Out is important for all communities as it represents a wonderful opportunity to forge and strengthen police-community partnerships,” SPD Chief Charles Husted said. “The development of community partnerships is one of the three essential tenets of community policing, and the community policing model is a foundational component of our service-oriented approach at the Sedona Police Department.”
Additionally, he said National Night Out provides a space where their officers, professional staff and volunteers can interact with neighbors and other community stakeholders. This is done in a positive setting, rather than the moments that can often involve victimization and tragedy, he said.
“The event also gives community members an occasion to interact with one another under a common theme of strengthening neighborhoods, which helps build togetherness and collaboration,” he said. “We appreciate solid police-community relationships in Sedona. But, we recognize the importance of always striving to get better, and never taking for granted the vital role that neighbors play in community safety and improving quality of life.”
A Look Back
Matt Peskin, founder of National Night Out, said it was out of necessity that he created the event more than three decades ago.
“The crime rate was extraordinary high, especially when it came to residential burglary,” he said in a 2014 interview with the Sedona Red Rock News. “People were doing all types of things to protect themselves. That’s how we came up with the idea. It was a night for people to sit on their porches with the lights on and for them to see how many people are on their side. The criminals want you to be afraid and for the streets and homes to be dark. This was a way of telling the criminals that we were taking back our neighborhoods.”
The end result — National Night Out, which has become one of the biggest one-day events in the country with nearly 40 million people participating from more than 16,000 communities from all 50 states, U.S. territories, Canadian cities and military bases worldwide. According to its website, National Night Out has gone from the symbolic front porch vigils to now a celebration across America with various events and activities including, but not limited to, block parties, cookouts, parades, visits from emergency personnel, rallies and marches, exhibits, youth events, safety demonstrations and seminars, in an effort to heighten awareness and enhance community relations.
“It took the first few years for people to understand what it was all about,” Peskin said in 2014. “Now, we’re always trying to enhance it and try new things. It definitely feels good that it’s lasted this long. It’s amazing to see how its expanded over the years when it comes to the numbers of communities and law enforcement agencies participating.”
Peskin said that in order to keep the program going, they had to incorporate more events and activities instead of people simply sitting on their porches.
“The popularity of the event is evident when you see coverage on CNN or other networks,” he said. “Sometimes it is hard for me to grasp how popular it’s become. There is definitely a ‘wow’ factor involved.”
For more information on this year’s event, visit wildcatcarnival.com. That event will be featured in an upcoming story in the Sedona Red Rock News.
Ron Eland can be reached at 282-7795, ext 122 or by email at reland@larsonnewspapers.com
