It’s America’s Night out Against Crime!

If you see block parties in full swing tonight as you drive through Pleasanton, it's part of National Night Out, where more than 37 million people in more than 15,000 communities will join forces tonight to celebrate.

In Pleasanton alone, there will be almost 40 events sprinkled through town.

National Night Out is a crime and drug prevention event sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch and co-sponsored by the Pleasanton Police Department.

National Night Out is designed to: (1) Heighten crime and drug awareness, (2) Generate support for, and participation in, local anticrime programs, (3) Strengthen neighborhood spirit and police community partnerships, and (4) Send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.

The Pleasanton Police Department started participating in National Night Out more than 10 years ago with four neighborhood block parties.

Since then, the event has progressively grown to 38 block parties with most coming from our organized Neighborhood Watch groups.

Parties vary from potlucks and BBQ’s to ice cream socials and have included live bands, bounce houses, kids activities and closed off street parties.

Parties registered with the police could be visited by the Pleasanton Police Department, Mayor, City Council, City Manager, city department heads and the Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Department.