St. Thomas, VI – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of the Virgin Islands joins community organizers, neighbors, and law enforcement partners in recognition of National Night Out held throughout the territory in October. For this year’s National Night Out, the Virgin Islands Law Enforcement Planning Commission and the Virgin Islands Juvenile Justice State Advisory Group Board have organized several events territory-wide.
One event was held in Buddhoe Park, St. Croix on October 7th and another at the Franklin Powell Bandstand on St. John on October 13th. The following additional events are scheduled on St. Thomas:
- October 27th, 2023, at 5 p.m. – Community Prayer & Praise Day – Promenade by the Waterfront
- October 28th, 2023, at 4 p.m. – Emile Griffith Park to Emancipation Garden
“National Night Out events are a vital opportunity to reaffirm the close partnership between law enforcement and the communities we serve,” United States Attorney Delia Smith said.
National Night Out was established in 1984 with funding from the U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Assistance. It is an annual community-building campaign that promotes partnerships and camaraderie between law enforcement and the communities they serve to make neighborhoods safer places to live. Millions take part in National Night Out across thousands of communities throughout the country. The program is administered by the National Association of Town Watch, a nationwide non-profit organization.
In the Virgin Islands, the program is coordinated by local law enforcement and trained volunteers and brings police and neighbors together under positive circumstances. Neighborhoods host block parties, cookouts, festivals, parades, safety demonstrations, seminars, youth events, visits from emergency personnel, and more. The goal is to send a message that neighbors are united and working together to keep their communities and each other safe.
To register as a provider at a local National Night Out event, please contact the Virgin Islands Law Enforcement Planning Commission: Jacqueline Freeman or Ana Creque at (340) 774-6500 ext. 210 or 209.
For more information, please visit https://natw.org/.
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