Austin To Mark 'National Night Out' With Community Gathering Across The City

AUSTIN, TX — Now more than ever — as the nation reels over the worst mass shooting in U.S. history that ushered in the week — people need to have each others' backs in standing up to crime. By sheer chronological coincidence, National Night Out is scheduled this Tuesday night aimed at promoting the very idea.

It's a nationwide event during which residents are urged to turn on their porch lights, lock their doors while spending the evening outdoors with neighbors, police officers, EMS medics and fire fighters. The idea behind the event is for residents to unite against crime with the neighbors and community. It's designed to:

• Heighten awareness for crime and drug prevention.
• Generate support and participation in crime prevention efforts.
• Strengthen neighborhood spirit and police community relations.
• Let criminals know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.

Austin won't be left behind in staging its own National Night Out community gatherings throughout the city, the event occurring from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 3.

Austin Police Department Police Chief Brian Manley will help mark National Night Out by making 15-minute appearances at several neighborhood gatherings:

• From 7:15 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Manley will be at Booker T. Washington Terraces – HACA, located at 905 Bedford Street, Austin, TX 78702
• The chief then will be at the Dobie Twenty21, 2021 Guadalupe Street, Austin, TX 78705, from 7:45 p.m. to 8 p.m.
• Manley will round out the evening at 9808 Parkfield Drive, Austin, TX 78758, from 8:30 p.m. to 8:45 p.m.

The police department on Saturday staged a kickoff event ahead of the official National Night Out to promote the tactics of the event. (See: Austin Schedules Kickoff To 'National Night Out' This Saturday.)

The security company ADT is among the sponsors of National Night Out. The company provided a link filled with useful information about the annual event, including history, ideas for neighborhood gatherings and tips. To access that site, click here.

The event intended to show unity against crime comes two days after a gunman slaughtered 59 people and injured some 500 others from a makeshift perch atop the 32nd floor of a Las Vegas hotel. Manley on Monday sought to assuage area residents of the robust security planned at the ACL Festival — a series of concerts taking place at Zilker Park over the next two weekends — given anxiety about large-scale gatherings in the wake of the Las Vegas mass shooting.

>>> Photos courtesy of Austin Police Department