Posted on: July 27, 2023
The National Night Out program, formerly known as the National Night Out Against Crime, will be celebrated in Laurel on Tuesday, August 1 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Laurel Police Department and will feature music, free food, and free backpacks for area school children.
On Tuesday, July 25th, Laurel Mayor Johnny Magee signed a proclamation in honor of the event’s 40th anniversary nationally and it’s 23rd year in the City Beautiful.
The event began in Philadelphia as an opportunity for community members and members of law enforcement to connect in a positive way.
The Laurel Police Department began participating in the national program in 2004 hosting their annual festivities at Mason Park. In recent years, the event has been moved to the lawn in front of the police department.
The proclamation read as follows:
Whereas, the National Association of Town Watch (NATW) and TARGET are sponsoring a unique, nationwide crime, drug and violence prevention program entitled “National Night Out;” and
Whereas, the “40th Annual National Night Out” provides a unique opportunity for the City of Laurel to join forces with thousands of other communities across the country in promoting cooperative, police-community crime prevention efforts; and
Whereas, the Laurel Police Department plays a vital role in providing crime, drug, and violence prevention efforts in the City of Laurel and supports “National Night Out 2023” locally; and
Whereas, it is essential that all citizens of the City of Laurel be aware of the importance of crime prevention programs and the impact that their participation can have on reducing crime, drugs, and violence in Jones County; and
Whereas, police-community partnerships, neighborhood safety, awareness, and cooperation are important themes of the “National Night Out” program
Now, therefore, I, Johnny Magee, Mayor of the City of Laurel, do hereby proclaim, Tuesday, August 1, 2023, as National Night Out Against Crime in the City of Laurel and encourage all citizens to gather at the Laurel Police Department on Tuesday, August 1, 2023, at 5:00 p.m. to join with the Laurel Police Department in supporting the National Night Out Against Crim initiative.
In witness thereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the City of Laurel, Mississippi to be affixed, this the 25th day of July, A.D. 2023.
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