Pubdate: Tue, 01 Aug 2006 Source: Palm Beach Post, The (FL) Copyright: 2006 The Palm Beach Post Contact: http://www.palmbeachpost.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/333 Author: Rochelle Gilken, Palm Beach Post Staff Writer "NATIONAL NIGHT OUT" AN OCCASION FOR LAW, CITIZENS TO MINGLE On the first, hot night of every August, law enforcement officers go from being the bearers of punishment to the party hosts promoting crime-fighting. They get juveniles in the bounce house rather than the big house. Do some face-painting instead of fingerprinting. Teach some rock-climbing, not the hazards of smoking crack rocks. It's called National Night Out and it involves block parties and parades and exhibits in 10,000 communities from all 50 states, including several cities in Palm Beach County. Most events are tonight. "We get to hang out with people in our communities," said Palm Beach County sheriff's deputy Carol Verdigi, who coordinates the agency's Night Out events. "Kids love this type of thing. Parents feel safe. They become more aware of what we can do and how we can help. It's an awareness type thing." At a time when the rate of violent crimes has increased nationwide, law enforcement agencies say this is an opportunity to make inroads with community members who may become victims or perpetrators of crime. The FBI reported that the nation's rate for murder, robbery and aggravated assault increased 2.5 percent in 2005 - the first increase in five years. Verdigi says it helps for people to see deputies as people in a friendly environment. They may be more likely to seek help from deputies. And they gain more knowledge of the agency after seeing all the bells and whistles - the helicopter, the Hulk and the horses. "Most people that have contact with an officer have negative contact - a speeding ticket or victim of crime," said West Palm Beach police officer Kelly Carsillo. "We're more people-friendly. They can touch our equipment, climb inside a police car." West Palm Beach celebrated its Night Out as a day out, with an exhibit and giveaways Sunday at the Palm Beach Mall. Carsillo said she gets a better crowd with the indoor event on the last day of the tax-free holiday. National Night Out has historically been held in high-crime neighborhoods as an evening where law-abiding residents replace drug dealers on the corners. In the town of Palm Beach, where crime is at a minimum, the event is at the central location of a church. "We call ours a celebration of crime prevention and community involvement," said police spokeswoman Janet Kinsella. The Palm Beach event includes exhibits of all the police equipment, such as boats and cars and all-terrain vehicles, along with a balloon artist and face- painter. This is the town's 23rd year with a Night Out. "It's just an awareness of how you can become involved in your community and the importance of shared responsibility in achieving crime prevention," Kinsella said. - --- MAP posted-by: Steve Heath