Cutting Crime by Meeting Neighbors
Monday, October 05, 2009 3:30 PM
It's a simple concept: Get out on your front porch and meet your neighbors. Maybe throw a few burgers on the grill and share a meal.
It's called National Night Out, a national program designed to promote crime and drug prevention activities in neighborhoods. Sponsored by
The National Association of Town Watch, the night is observed on the first Tuesday of each August, but in Texas, because of our sweltering summers, we observe it the first Tuesday in October.
Here at METRO, we'll mark tomorrow by a display of some of our more unusual crime-fighting equipment. The event is free and open to the public from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
You'll get to meet our bomb-fighting unit, including our robot outfitted with a camera and arm that can grasp and turn over objects.
"The robot is designed to go into hazardous situations where you don't want to commit a person," said MPD Officer Harold Hewlett, who is coordinating the lobby event.
The bomb truck used by our Special Operations Response Team (SORT) will be on display outside our main building at 1900 Main St., along with our Swift Water Rescue Boat. 
We'll also have a four-legged, furry officer available for you to meet - one of our K-9 officers. METRO's K-9 officers specialize in either bomb detection or drug detection.
Hewlett said he hopes neighbors will get out and meet each other tomorrow night - along with the constables who patrol those neighborhoods.
"Let's hope this forms a bond so folks won't be so afraid to call the police when they have a problem. Folks just don't want to get involved with the police. It's always a negative situation - you're receiving a ticket or you're the victim of a crime," said Hewlett. "The important part is letting people know how they can be a part of the system that not only prevents crime but helps to apprehend."
Hewlett's tip to keeping your street safe: "If you see something that doesn't look right, don't be afraid to call the local law enforcement agency and let them know."
And if you are on one of our trains or buses and you see suspicious activity, say something. Dial #MPD on your cell phone.