A New Twist on Shorewood's National Night Out

Shorewood's National Night Out celebration is back — rain or shine.

After going two years without staging the communitywide anti-crime event — 2010 and 2011 — and then holding a rather low-key open house at the police department last year, Shorewood police say National Night Out is back in full force in 2013.

This time around, the anti-crime, anti-drug program will held at outdoors at the Village Center, 3920 N. Murray Blvd., from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday. However, if the weather gets too bad — like did in 2011 — the event will be moved indoors.

National Night Out will feature a K9 unit demonstration by the Glendale Police Department, and children will get an up-close look at the police and fire equipment and vehicle. There also will be demonstrations and/or exhibits by  the Milwaukee Area Domestic Animal Control, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, the North Shore Health Department and many more community organizations.

In addition, food and beverages and ice cream will be available and there will be a prize drawing.

But the main focus is as it has always been: To get the entire to community to take a stand against crime.

“It gives a residents a friendly reminder once a year that we're here," said Shorewood Deputy Police Chief Kevin Carini. "It's about preventing crime and fighting drugs.

"It's also not only for the community to get together with each other, but they also get together with the fire department, the police department and others that we do business with," Carini added. "They can see what we do, ask questions and get up close and personal."

This marks the 30th year of the National Night Out program, which now involves more than 37 million people and 15,000 communities nationwide.