East Orange, NJ, July 27, 2023: Mayor Ted R. Green, the East Orange City Council and the Department of Public Safety will be hosting a unified National Night Out (NNO) event to commemorate 40 years of promoting police-community partnerships.

The event will be held on Tuesday, August 1, 2023 from 4pm to 8pm at East Orange Campus Field, 344 Prospect Street in East Orange, NJ. Admission is free and open to the public. 

Residents are invited to bring their family, friends, and neighbors for a night that will include free food, music, games, community resources, giveaways, and much more. 

A highlight of the event will include the 2^nd Annual Battle of the Wards Kickball Game with teams led by Mayor Green and members of the city council. To join a team and represent your ward with your councilmember, please visit bit.ly/battleofthewards.

National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make neighborhoods safer, better places to live. Neighbors participate across thousands of communities from all 50 states, United States territories, Canadian cities, and military bases worldwide. This year marks the 40^th anniversary of the national campaign which is designed to enhance the relationship between residents and law enforcement while bringing back a true sense of community. 

Over the past six years, the Department of Public Safety, which is comprised of EOPD, EOFD and the Office of Emergency Management, has taken significant steps to improve police-community relationships through increased walking and bike patrols, mentorship, sports programs, special events like pop-up block parties and community resource fairs and positive recruitment.  

Community-oriented policing is one of the key components of EOPD’s strategy to drive down crime. Crime has steadily declined year after year, and in 2022, violent crime was down 20% and overall crime by 4%. 

Residents are encouraged to use this night as an opportunity to keep their lights on, meet and greet their neighbors and enjoy an evening of fellowship and fun. 

Event attendees are encouraged to bring a lawn chair or blanket, and all children 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult. For more information, please call EOPD’s Community Relations Division at 973.266.5070. 

WHO:             City of East Orange

WHAT:           National Night Out

WHEN:          Tues, Aug 1, 2023 between 4pm-8pm

WHERE:        East Orange Campus Field, 344 Prospect Street, East Orange, NJ

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