The Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — In its original form, the National Night Out was geared specifically toward law enforcement agencies. An event that draws attention to crime prevention by bringing together citizens and officers of the law, the night out comes to Routt County for the first time in an expanded format.

“Crime prevention and drug prevention often involve all aspects — dispatch, fire, EMS, everything. And that’s why we have all of our agencies coming to it,” said Leslie Hockaday, a dispatcher with Routt County Communications who organized the event.

From 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. today, the Routt County Communications Public Ed­­ucation Team invites residents to meet with emergency agencies from across the county, with a variety of children’s activities and displays.

Randy Hampton, a public information officer for the Colorado Division of Wildlife in the northwest region, said his agency plans to bring its “Operation Game Thief” anti-poaching simulation trailer to the event.

“Local law enforcement contacted us because of our relationship with them,” Hampton said. “We thought it would be a good opportunity, with some of the events they have planned, to bring our Operation Game Thief trailer out and talk to the people there about wildlife law enforcement and some of the things we do.”

The event doubles as a chance for residents to meet with and understand the duties of local law enforcement, and as an introduction to the community for the communications education team, Hockaday said. In its 25th year nationally, the night out in other communities can involve block parties, officers going door-to-door or citizens participating in neighborhood walks.

“Their goal is to take a night off of crime and show criminals that the community is getting back at crime,” Hockaday said. According to the National Association of Town Watch, a nonprofit organization that sponsors the event, last year the National Night Out involved more than 35 million people. The stated goals of the event include heightening crime and drug prevention awareness, generating support for anti-crime efforts and strengthening neighborhood spirit.

“It’s a chance to kind of build a community between the citizens and the agencies, and try to answer questions from the public and build communication, and maybe teach them something about 911 that they didn’t know,” Hockaday said.

— To reach Margaret Hair, call 871-4204 or e-mail mhair@steamboatpilot.com