National Night Out brings people and police together to help make their neighborhoods safer. Smithfield is competing to have the best one in the country.
Hundreds turned out Tuesday for a National Night Out that finished in the top three percent in the U.S. last year.
"Heightening awareness of drug preventions to unify the neighborhood community watches that we have and this is our way to get together one day a year to celebrate that," said Lt. Kurt Beach of the Smithfield Police Department.
Getting involvement is the key; it's where Smithfield thrives. Among all the fun, these partygoers, one way or another, were coaxed into volunteering.
Getting hands on when it comes to make Smithfield safer makes the officers' jobs a whole lot easier.
"Where we can all say to each other and look at each other and acknowledge our accomplishments and all the things we've done here in Smithfield," Lt. Beach said. "Our crime rate is lower, our citizenship and our community relations are better."
The hope this year is finishing in the top 10, maybe even number one. It'll be awhile until they find out where they finish.
