National Night Out

An officer at the 114th Police Precinct prepares to get dunked for a good cause at National Night Out festivities in Astoria Park.

Police precincts throughout Queens celebrated the 24th annual National Night Out on Tuesday, August 7. Area residents, law enforcement agencies, civic groups, businesses, neighborhood organizations and local officials participated.

The aims of National Night Out are to generate support for, and participation in, local anti-crime programs; strengthen neighborhood spirit and policecommunity partnerships; and heighten crime and drug prevention awareness. The ultimate objective of National Night Out events is to let criminals know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back against their efforts to take over.

Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown was scheduled to receive the 2007 Police Officer Charles A. Davis Award for Outstanding Community Service in Rufus King Park in Jamaica during the 103rd Precinct's National Night Out community gathering. Davis, a 12-year veteran of the New York City Police Department assigned to the 103rd Precinct, was murdered on Dec. 21, 1996 by a gang of robbers as he worked off-duty as a guard at Astoria Boulevard Check Cashing in East Elmhurst. The store's owner, Ira Epstein, was also killed. Since 1997, the Davis Award has been presented annually to an individual who best exemplifies the slain officer's commitment and dedication to the community, empathy for youth and his respect and tolerance for individual differences.

National Night Out 2007 activities in Astoria Park included grilled hot dogs for everyone attending, provided by the 114th Police Precinct.

Brown was also scheduled to tour the 107th and 112th Precincts as part of National Night Out Against Crime.