BPD - Community Policing

The Bogota Police Department is bringing back National Night Out to Bogota. National Night Out also known as "NNO" is designed to heighten crime and drug prevention awareness. We want to send a message to criminals letting them know that Bogota is organized and we're fighting back!

As many of you know, Bogota has a great history of community, volunteerism, and many championships, so today, I turn to you, to make this 2008 NNO a memorable year and on track to have it bigger and better for many years to come.

Although, National Night Out is in its twenty-fifth year, the founders had several objectives when they started NNO (including crime prevention education), but I feel it is really about celebrating community. It is about having that "block party" with your neighbors or your church carnival. It is a known FACT that people who know their neighbors have less fear of their neighborhood and it is also true that residents who know their neighborhood kids by name have many fewer problems with their neighborhood youth. NNO reduces anonymity and fear of crime.

Bringing your neighbors together on NNO can even make your block a safer place to live. It's a time when you can make the commitment to watch out for each other and call 911 when police are needed. Police officers can't be everywhere so we depend on dedicated groups of residents to be our "eyes and ears."

While this one night is certainly not the answer to crime, drugs and violence, it does however represent the kind of spirit, energy, and determination that is helping to make this community a safer place. "NNO" is a night to celebrate crime prevention successes - and to expand and strengthen programs for the next 364 days. We need YOU! Residents, Business Owners, and local officials to. This event does not happen automatically, we will need a lot of volunteers. Please make an effort to volunteer someone from your block to participate in the Borough of Bogota's National Night Out to be held on Tuesday, August 5th from 6 p.m.- 9 p.m. in Oscar E. Olsen Memorial Park. I have some good ideas, but will need lots of help from volunteers to make this happen. So mark your calendars and look for updates right here on this website.

Hope to see you on August 5th.

Sincerely,
P.O. Regina G. Tasca
Community Policing Officer