Community members turn out for Night Out Against Crime

by Lou Braswell

The Neighborhood Crime Prevention Patrol presented National Night Out Against Crime Aug. 2 at the National Guard Armory, 18th and Ridge.

The attendance shows our community’s willingness to work together. There were commercial tables with information, along with many of neighborhood watch groups willing to share information.

Mayor Mark Holland, Police Chief Terry Ziegler, Fire Chief John Paul Jones, and Sheriff Don Ash spoke to the group. Also on display was a Wall to Remember Exhibit of Kansas Fallen Military. Debbie Austin is the state of Kansas representative for the exhibit.

Jack Barnes, president of American Fallen Warrior Memorial Foundation, was also present to discuss the progress toward having a permanent memorial located in Kansas City, Kan. The foundation hopes to build a national memorial here. He was one of the speakers at the event.

2016 National Night Out Against Crime shirts were available to the first 100 neighborhood group members to register at the event.

NCPP works closely with the Kansas City, Kan., Police Department by patrolling areas in Kansas City, Kan., reporting anything that seems suspicious, helping with the search and rescues when called upon. The neighborhood patrollers are referred to as the “eyes and ears” of law enforcement officers. Classes to become a patroller with NCPP are conducted yearly at the Police Academy with a class beginning in September. Those who are interested may contact Kendall McReynolds at [email protected]
for information.

Lou Braswell is an NCPP board member.