Monday, July 26, 2010

CCSO Ready For National Night Out

The Collier County Sheriff’s Office is preparing for a big “Night” on the town.

On Tuesday, Aug. 3, CCSO will join forces with neighborhoods and communities across Collier County for the 27th annual National Night Out.

National Night Out is designed to heighten crime and drug prevention awareness; generate support for, and participation in, local anti-crime efforts; strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships; and send a message to criminals letting them know neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.

CCSO is celebrating the fight against crime by hosting free events and activities that bring neighborhoods, communities, businesses, and law enforcement together. There will be an array of CCSO displays, demonstrations and information. There will also be safety festivals at community parks and other locales, cookouts, lemonade stands, bounce houses, beach ball giveaways, bike raffles, as well as appearances by McGruff the Crime Dog and Red E. Fox, and more.

In addition to the various CCSO safety celebrations, deputies will join Community Safety Teams in neighborhood patrols and walks, holding candles and flashlights and distributing safety information.

Please join us as we let criminals know they are not welcome in Collier County.

Here’s a look at CCSO events and activities planned for Tuesday, Aug. 3:

NORTH NAPLES: Safetyfest, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the parking lot at North Collier Regional Park, 15000 Livingston Road.The event will feature public safety displays and demonstrations by the CCSO Bomb Squad, K-9 Unit and SWAT. Participants can also tour the mobile crime scene van. The National Center For Missing & Exploited Children will conduct child fingerprinting and offer free child ID kits. Firefighters from the North Naples Fire Department will also be featured, along with representatives from Collier County Code Enforcement, Collier County Domestic Animal Services, and Collier County Parks and Recreation. Red E. Fox will also be on hand to educate children about 911.

**Families can also splash around at the water park, located next to the parking lot. A reduced admission fee of $5 per person will be charged for entry to Sun-N-Fun Lagoon. Food and refreshments will be available for purchase at the water park concession.

**Community Safety Teams will be walking the neighborhoods of Naples Park, Twin Lakes, Wisconsin Avenue, and Michigan Avenue from 6 to 9 p.m.

EAST NAPLES: Safetyfest, East Naples Community Park, 3500 Thomasson Drive, 6 to 9 p.m. The event will feature deputies from CCSO’s SWAT unit and Crime Prevention Section and McGruff the Crime Dog. Deputies will conduct bicycle safety checks for kids. Firefighters from the East Naples Fire Department will be on hand, along with representatives from the Shy Wolf Sanctuary. The event will also feature a bounce house, swamp buggies on display, and food and refreshments. Two adult bicycles and two kid bikes and movie tickets are among the items that will be raffled off.

GOLDEN GATE: Safetyfest, Golden Gate Community Center, 4701 Golden Gate Parkway, 6 to 9 p.m. Deputies from CCSO will grill hot dogs and hamburgers and pass out lemonade and other refreshments. There will also be beach balls and other fun giveaways for kids. Displays by the Golden Gate Fire District, Golden Gate Civic Association, Golden Gate Task Forces and Collier County Code Enforcement will also be featured. The American Red Cross, Shy Wolf Sanctuary and Collier Spay and Neuter Clinic will also have booths on display.

**Crime Prevention booth from 6 to 9 p.m. at Super Target, 2415 Tarpon Bay Blvd.

**Deputies will be out in the Community Safety Team neighborhoods in Golden Gate from 6 to 9 p.m.

GOLDEN GATE ESTATES: Safetyfest, State Division of Forestry office, 710 Randall Blvd., 5:30. to 8:30 p.m. Deputies from CCSO will be joined by representatives from Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Collier County Code Enforcement, Collier County Domestic Animal Services, state Division of Forestry, Big Corkscrew Fire Department, and Golden Gate Estates Civic Association. Information on topics ranging from indoor marijuana grow houses to panthers, bears and hunting regulations will be available. Smokey Bear will be on hand to dispense fire safety tips. There will also be food and refreshments.

EVERGLADES CITY: Community cookout, 6 to 9 p.m., at the corner of Janes Scenic Drive and Lee Cypess Drive in Copeland. Deputies will be grilling hot dogs and serving refreshments.

**Crime Prevention booth, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Chokoloskee Island.

**Crime Prevention booth, 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. at Everglades City Hall.

**Crime Prevention booth, 6 to 9 p.m., corner of Janes Scenic Drive and Lee Cypess Drive.

IMMOKALEE: Safetyfest, under the pavilion at Immokalee Community Park, 321 N. 1st St., from 6 to 8 p.m. Deputies will discuss safety tips for bicyclists and pedestrians as well as other crime prevention topics. Deputies will install bicycle safety lights and provide bike helmets as needed. McGruff the Crime Dog will be on hand to talk to kids about what to do if approached by a stranger. Representatives from the National Center For Missing & Exploited Children will offer child fingerprinting and child ID kits. Firefighters from the Immokalee Fire Department will conduct demonstrations and discuss fire safety. A new bike will be raffled off. The event will also feature a child bike rodeo and free food and refreshments.