COMMUNITY CRACKS DOWN

Residents Come Together To Help Fight Crime, Drugs

BAY CITY - Residents and the Bay City Police Department are preparing to
put a ban on burglars with 15th annual National Night Out on Aug. 5.

The National Association of Town Watch is sponsoring the annual program, a
nationwide event where thousands of communities join together through
neighborhood organizations to crack down on crime and drug use.

According to Bay City Police Department community service coordinator Bobby
Rodriguez, National Night Out involved more than 9,000 communities across
the United States and Canada last year.

The event is projected to have more than 32 million participants this year,
29 million in the United States.

Rodriguez said 20 Bay City neighborhoods participated in local activities
from 7 to 10 p.m.

"Last year several neighborhoods held parades, block parties and cookouts
in support of the program," said Rodriguez. "This is to let criminals know
that neighborhoods are watching what they are doing. We want criminals to
be aware that they are not getting away with anything. People need to know
that crime is not just a police problem, it's a community problem."

For more information on National Night Out, call the Bay City Police
Department at 245-8500 or 323-1771.