SUFFOLK CELEBRATES NATIONAL NIGHT OUT – A TIME FOR COMMUNITY

It is that special time of year when Suffolk citizens and public safety personnel take time to celebrate National Night Out. (Please note, this event was rescheduled from Tuesday, August 4, to Thursday, August 6, due to the primary election.) On Thursday, August 6, the City of Suffolk will celebrate National Night Out, an evening when everyone comes together to say “NO” to crime and strengthen their bonds within their communities. Over 100 communities, homeowner’s associations, civic organizations, neighborhoods, churches, and business sponsors are partnering to make this year’s event extra special with block parties, cook-outs, and mini-festivals covering the landscape of Suffolk.

Suffolk’s National Night Out opens with a Send-Off ceremony scheduled for Thursday, August 6 at 5:00 p.m. in City Council Chamber at Suffolk City Hall, 442 West Washington St. Suffolk Mayor Michael D. Duman, City Manager Kevin Hughes, Police Chief James Buie, and Fire Chief Michael Barakey will be among the dignitaries present to help kick start the evening’s fun.

Following the ceremony, tour groups in seven motorcade units will venture out across the City of Suffolk to visit the registered parties and enjoy the NNO fun happening in our City. To find a community party near you, visit the Where The Parties Are! tab.

Suffolk has a longstanding tradition of excellence with National Night Out and has ranked in the top ten nationwide for over a decade in our population category, while being the recipient of five first-in-the-nation awards (2008, 2009, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2022, 2023). Last year, Suffolk placed in the top ten.

National Night Out, which is sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch (NATW), and co-sponsored locally by the Suffolk Police Department, will involve millions of people in tens of thousands of communities across the United States, U.S. Territories, Canadian cities, and military bases worldwide. National Night Out is designed to:

  • heighten crime, drug and violence prevention awareness;

  • generate support for, and participation in, local anti-crime efforts;

  • strengthen neighborhood unity and spirit, as well as enhance police-community partnerships;

  • send a message to criminals, letting them know neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.

Lock your doors, turn on your porch lights, and join your friends and neighbors on Tuesday, August 4, to show that Suffolk truly is united and dedicated to building a safer, more caring city!