PHOTO BY MEGHAN ERKKINEN

Officer Kurt Schwan and German shepherd Caleb of the Federal Way Police Department put on a demonstration. Caleb is taught to sit when he senses drugs.

Fife spends night out against crime

By Meghan Erkkinen

Many Fife residents took a stand against crime in the city by spending the evening of Aug. 5 at Fife High School as part of National Night Out (NNO).

“The idea is that you get to know your neighbor, you get to know your community,” said Mike Babauta of Safe Streets, a crime prevention organization helping to organize and support NNO events in Pierce County. “It’s uniting neighbors against crime. [NNO] is an event that was created to have a day where neighbors get out to know each other, to have block parties and events.”

The Fife Police Department organized activities such as a dunk tank, miniature golfing, face painting and an activity that simulates driving while intoxicated. Booths were also set up to educate children and their families on such things as gun locks and organizing neighborhood watch groups.

The event also included demonstrations by the Federal Way K9 unit’s Officer Kurt Schwan and German shepherd Caleb, who sniffed out marijuana in one of three boxes placed before him. As he is trained to do, Caleb sat beside the box with the illegal substances in order to receive his reward – a ball.

This was the 25th year of NNO, an event that brings neighbors together to strengthen connections and send a message to criminals that they are fighting back. The event began in 1984 in 400 communities in 23 states as community vigils during which neighbors would turn on their porch lights and watch the street, discouraging illegal activity.

Since then, the event has grown to include block parties, cookouts, parades, visits from police and other activities.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity for communities nationwide to promote police-community partnerships, crime prevention and neighborhood camaraderie,” said Matt A. Peskin, executive director of the National Association of Town Watch, a nonprofit organization that first introduced the event. “While one night is certainly not an answer to crime, drugs and violence, National Night Out does represent the kind of spirit, energy and determination that is helping make many neighborhoods safer places throughout the year.”

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