SHREVEPORT/LAFAYETTE, La. – Western District of Louisiana U.S. Attorney’s Office staff members, local law enforcement and community leaders met in neighborhoods throughout Caddo, Bossier and Lafayette parishes Tuesday in conjunction with Community Policing Week and National Night Out.
National Night Out takes place for one night usually the first Tuesday in August or October and is designed to heighten crime and drug prevention awareness, generate support for local anti-crime efforts, strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships. It sends a clear message that neighbors are organized and fighting back.
Residents unlocked their doors, turned on porch lights and spent the evening outside with family, friends, neighbors, emergency response personnel and city officials. Many neighborhoods throughout Caddo and Bossier parishes hosted a variety of special events such as block parties, cookouts, parades, flashlight walks, contests, youth activities and anti-crime rallies.
In Lafayette, residents met at the Martin Luther King Center near Willow Street. The events included music, food, games, fun jumps and other displays by local agencies including the Lafayette Police Department SWAT Team, Horse Patrol, Motorcycle Unit, Bicycle Patrol and the Police Command Bus.
Community policing is a public safety philosophy based on partnership and cooperation between law enforcement and the communities that they are sworn to protect and serve. At the center of community policing is the idea that all members of the community, both officer and civilian, have a stake in the safety of their neighborhoods where they live and work.
As part of the Obama Administration’s commitment to building stronger relationships between law enforcement and the communities they serve, the Department of Justice is leading nearly 400 events in support of community policing efforts around the country. To further that effort, President Obama designated the week of October 2 to 8, 2016, as National Community Policing Week. The week is also an extension of Attorney General Loretta Lynch’s 12-city Community Policing Tour that highlights collaborative programs and policing practices designed to advance public safety, strengthen police-community relations, and foster mutual trust and respect between law enforcement and citizens. National Community Policing Week builds on President Obama’s efforts to engage with law enforcement and other members of the community to implement key recommendations from the 21st Century Policing Task Force report.
“This year Community Policing Week and National Night Out took place during the same week,” Finley stated. “The aim of both is to foster a strong bond among community members and law enforcement. It is also a great way to acknowledge the accomplishments of neighborhood organizations that keep communities safe, and especially to thank and acknowledge our law enforcement community for putting their lives on the line for us every day.”
In Shreveport and Bossier City, various member of the U.S. Attorney’s Office staff joined Shreveport Mayor Ollie Tyler, Shreveport Interim Police Chief Alan Crump, Caddo Parish Sheriff Steve Prator’s Office, the Shreveport Fire Department and other agencies in Caddo and Bossier parishes. In Lafayette, members of the U.S. Attorney’s Office staff joined the Lafayette Police Department, Lafayette Sheriff’s Office, Lafayette Parish Fire Department and other agencies at the community center on Cora Street.
Thousands of communities across the United States took part in the 33nd Annual National Night Out starting in August. To find out more about National Night Out, visit the National Association for Town Watch at http://www.natw.org.