LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas –
The City of San Antonio, with assistance from Lackland and the local community, was recently chosen the nation's best for National Night Out 2010.
San Antonio earned first place in National Night Out's category 1, competing against other cities with 300,000-plus populations from across the nation. Last year's NNO involved 37 million people in 15,110 communities from all 50 states, U.S. territories and military bases. It was the largest participation in the program's 27-year history.
For its involvement, the 802nd Security Forces Squadron received an award of appreciation for sponsoring the Lackland NNO block party on Oct. 5, 2010 in support of the San Antonio Police Department NNO program. Approximately 500 family members attended the event.
"I was very excited to see San Antonio reclaim the No. 1 award in the nation for its National Night Out program," said Senior Airman Elizabeth Baratta, 802nd SFS police services/community policing, who organized the Lackland NNO.
"The city has been in the category 1 top three for the last several years and always has a strong showing in the community," Airman Baratta said. "It's an extraordinary thing to be a part of the San Antonio NNO program."
She said Lackland's participation with SAPD helped indicate to judges from National Association of Town Watch, NNO sponsor, the city's strength and involvement in the program.
"The mission of National Night Out is to show criminals that we're taking back our neighborhoods from crime," Airman Baratta said. "Getting the Lackland community to interact with Security Forces really drives home that point.
"The most important factor in deterring crime is the sense of community and watching out for each other."
SAPD estimated more than 200,000 persons participated in the city's NNO 2010 activities. Approximately 2,200 different parties around San Antonio were held under the theme, "Giving Neighborhood Crime and Drugs a Going Away Party."