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Crime Watch groups host Night Out
Children take part in a hula hoop contest Sunday during the Wilkes-Barre City Crime Watch Coalition’s ‘Rock Around the Block’ event in observance of the National Night Out Against Crime.
DON CAREY/THE TIMES LEADER
WILKES-BARRE – A couple hundred people filled Public Square Sunday evening to enjoy music, children’s contests and fellowship during the Wilkes-Barre City Crime Watch Coalition’s National Night Out celebration.
“People from all 14 crime watches are here today. It’s great to get all the people together. People from South Wilkes-Barre Crime Watch don’t know people from North Wilkes-Barre or the Heights, so they’re getting to know each other,” said coalition President Charlotte Raup.
Folks stood around the Square and sat under a tent listening to ’50s band Timmy and the Bits & Pieces, watching children, teens and adults swinging their hips to “Wipe Out” in a hula hoop contest, doing the limbo and then dancing to “The Twist.”
The coalition distributed gift certificates donated by many local businesses as prizes for the three contests, Raup said.
The 1950s-themed “Rock Around The Clock” celebration was in honor of the 26th National Night Out, an evening aimed at curbing crime and drug use in neighborhoods.
“We have a National Night Out every year with things like Stranger Danger and fingerprinting for children. This year, we wanted to make it a little different and have it more for adults because that’s who we want to join. … It would be great to have everyone join,” Raup said.
The coalition is comprised of crime watch groups from the seven high-rise apartment buildings in the city and seven neighborhoods.
“We have about 300 members and we want more. There’s a lot more good guys than bad guys and we have to work to get rid of them. Crime Watch is all about prevention. We’re the eyes and ears of the police department, calling police and 911, reporting drug activity. You don’t know everything you prevent,” Raup said.
Wilkes-Barre Deputy Police Chief Donald Crane, the department’s Crime Watch coordinator, addressed the crowd near the opening of the festivities and thanked coalition members for their work.
Police Chief Gerard Dessoye said he was surprised by the turnout, “but not by the membership” who showed up. “It really shows you how supportive members of Crime Watch are,” he said.
Dessoye noted that the department has had a long relationship with Crime Watch and called it a “very, very active” organization. He was happy the rain that fell on Sunday stopped before the National Night Out celebration began. “God loves Crime Watch,” he said.
Dessoye said police officers were milling about downtown; but other than Crane’s remarks, the police had little to do with this year’s observance.
“It’s more of a social event today. Even Crime Watch deserves a day off,” he said.
BECOME A WATCHER
Anyone interested in becoming a member of the Wilkes-Barre City Neighborhood Crime Watch can call 208-8900 for more information.
To learn more, log on to www.wbcrimewatch.org