Silver Spring Takes A Night Out to Focus On Safety

Silver Spring residents joined the Montgomery County Police Department and the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission Police in celebration of National Night Out, an evening hosted by cities across the nation designed to heighten crime and drug prevention and strengthen relationships between communities and local police departments.

“It’s a good reminder for people to stay vigilant and keep an eye out,” said Jill Ortman-Fouse who attended the event at Indian Spring Park along with 40 other residents. As president of her neighborhood association, she said the event allows the community to thank those who work to help keep the city safe.

“The police are working so hard for our neighborhood. They are trying to educate our neighborhood and cooperate and collaborate with everyone,” said Ortman-Fouse.

Silver Spring hosted the most National Night Out events of any other city in the county with two other celebrations at Mid County Recreation Center and South Four Corners Park. Representatives of the police department traveled in a caravan to each location to show their support for the event.

“The greatest success that the MCPD can have is consistently having a good relationship with the community we serve,” said Lucille Baur, Spokesperson for Montgomery County Police Department.

“We have experienced an increase in residential burglaries even though total crime is down in the county and we really need our community members to look out for each other and report any suspicious vehicles or people in the neighborhood.  National Night Out introduces neighbors to others who care about making our community safer,” said Baur.

Yet some residents came out to raise awareness about another ongoing issue in the county--the proposed teen curfew. Teen members of the “Stand Up to the MoCo Youth Curfew” Facebook campaign wore “protest the curfew” stickers and spoke with members of the police department and attendees to push why they believe the proposal to legislate a curfew on youth under 18 shouldn’t be enacted.

“It’s interesting to meet the people who have been pushing for it and the neighborhood level is where it happens,” said Abigail Burman, 17, creator of the campaign. “We agree, we respect the police and the incredible job they’re doing. Crime is going down…We shouldn’t restrict people’s liberties because of their age,” said Burman.

No one at the event debated about the importance of safety in the community. The Montgomery County Police Department encouraged residents to call  the Silver Spring Third District Office at (301) 565-7740 for additional information.