‘National Night Out’ events to help fight crime

By Dave Toplikar

Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2009 | 12:39 p.m.

Area residents are being encouraged to attend local gatherings of a symbolic nationwide event being held tonight to promote community cooperation with police.

Several "National Night Out" events, created to help fight crime and illegal drug use, will be held throughout the Las Vegas area.

Police departments, civic groups, community organizations and local governments plan to come together at the events to show criminals that residents are active in making their neighborhoods safe.

Here are some of the area events:

-- 4 p.m. at the Doolittle Community Center, 1950 North J St. The Officer James Manor mural will be unveiled at the center. Clark County Sheriff Doug Gillespie will be present.

-- 5:30 p.m. at the Walnut Recreation Center, 3075 Walnut St. Officers from the soon-to-open Northeast Area Command of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department will meet their new neighbors. Several motivational speakers will give presentations. Clark County Undersheriff Rod Jett will attend.

-- 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Henderson Events Plaza, Henderson Convention Center, 200 S. Water St. The event, hosted by the Henderson Police Department, will feature crime prevention information, members of specialized Henderson police units, live entertainment and free hot dogs.

-- 7 p.m. at The Lakes' community center on Lake Sahara (at Sahara Avenue behind CitiBank). Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman, Councilman Steve Wolfson and Sheriff Gillespie will meet residents of The Lakes community. See more about the event.