Sammamish to Celebrate National Night Out on Aug. 2

The will host a National Night Out kickoff event at on Tuesday, Aug. 2 from noon to 3 p.m.

The event will feature representatives from several local law enforcement and emergency response agencies, as well as police and fire vehicles for kids and adults to check out and play around with.

“It’s a meet and greet and informational opportunity for citizens,” Sammamish Police Sgt. Peter Horvath said.

Representatives from the Sammamish Police Department, the King County Sheriff’s Office, Eastside Fire & Rescue, the wildlife department, the forest service and the marine patrol will be on hand to answer questions and give people a chance to have a friendly encounter with law enforcement and first responders. 

“I think it’s very positive for the community,” Horvath said. “They enjoy coming out and being able to interact with us, and we enjoy interacting with the community, too.”

The event will also feature musical entertainment by the Jam Academy Kids at 12:30 p.m. and kid's activities courtesy of We C.A.R.E. Sports.

Members of the Sammamish Citizen Corps Council will also be at the National Night Out to help residents learn about neighborhood crime prevention and emergency preparedness. 

“It’s one of the things I’m passionate about,” , said.

Kiernan, a former police officer with 18 years experience, was looking for a way to use his experience and contribute to neighborhood safety when he joined the Sammamish Citizen Corps Council.

After the kickoff event at Sammamish Commons, the Citizen Corps will host several neighborhood events in the evening where people can get together and meet their neighbors, put names to faces, and develop a list of contacts and resources for emergency situations.

“It’s a way to get to know your neighbors,” Kiernan said.

Kiernan believes that when neighbors get to know each other and create networks within their community they develop a better sense of what’s going on in the neighborhood. Knowing when something is not quite right, such as when suspicious characters are lurking around or odd cars start to show up, can help prevent crime, he said.

“It’s a lot easier to prevent a crime than it is to solve one,” Kiernan said.

Members of the Citizen Corps regularly host barbecues, pool parties and more to bring people together and put them in contact with each other and valuable information.

“We’re trying to get the information out so people can take care of their neighbors and their friends,” Kiernan said.

National Night Out was first introduced in 1984 by the National Association of Town Watch as a nonprofit drug and crime prevention effort. According to the organization, last year’s event involved 37 million people in over 15,000 communities across the country.