Tuesday should be a quiet night for crime in Fargo-Moorhead.
Law enforcement throughout the area will take to the streets to celebrate the 20th annual National Night Out.
The event is designed to heighten crime- and drug- fighting efforts in each community while generating participation and support for anti-crime efforts.
"This is a significant event every year in our communities," said Moorhead Police Chief Grant Weyland. "It's a chance for people to come out and talk about issues that are important to them."
Locally, the Fargo, West Fargo, Moorhead, Dilworth and Glyndon, Minn., police departments will join the sheriff's departments from Cass and Clay counties to participate in the event.
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A law enforcement motorcade will travel through the communities, starting at 10:30 a.m. from the Highway Host in West Fargo and ending in Dilworth.
A tug-of-war between North Dakota and Minnesota officers will start at 1 p.m. at the walking bridge behind the Red Bear Grill and Tavern in Moorhead.
From 5 to 9 p.m., each departments will sponsor National Night Out activities.
Locally, top law officials predict as many as 10,000 people will participate, said West Fargo Chief Arland Rasmussen.
In 2002, 33 million people participated in National Night Out events in 9,850 communities in the United States, Canada and military bases worldwide, according to the Web site www.nationaltownwatch.org .
This year's West Fargo event will be held at Elmwood Park.
Residents will have the opportunity to go on helicopter and Humvee tours and motorcycle rides. There also will be Tae Kwon Do, dog obedience demonstrations and free food.
The event allows people to meet others in their community.
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"A lot of people don't know who (is living) on their own block," Rasmussen said.
Fargo and Moorhead police plan to visit local block parties during the evening.
Cass County will have deputies in Mapleton and Casselton, and Clay County deputies will attend gatherings in Oakport.
The Glyndon Police Department will host a free corn on the cob feed starting at 5:30 p.m. in Johnson Park.
From 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., free child identification registration will be available.
The Glyndon Fire Department will end the evening with a water fight.
For more information on local events go to the Web site www.nationalnightout.net .
Readers can reach Forum reporter Jeff Baird at (701) 241-5535
