Food, Fun, Displays, Demonstrations and First Annual "Guardians of the Night" K9 5K

Sheriff Leon Lott is encouraging the community to participate in the 2011 Kick-Off for National Night Out on Saturday, July 30, 2011 from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM at the Village at Sandhill (at the Fountain in the Town Center Commons). The event celebrates taking crime off our streets and helps to kick-start National Night Out Against Crime, Tuesday August 2, 2011.

The National Night Out Kick-Off and the Tuesday National Night Out are designed to encourage communities to interact with each other, interact with law enforcement and to send the message to criminals that we will not tolerate their behavior; that we are “Building Unity in the Community” in Richland County.

Sheriff Lott added that his goal is to have 100% participation from all neighborhoods in Richland County on National Night Out, and have a crime watch in every neighborhood and business community.

This year's Pre-National Night Out event, on Saturday July 30, 2011, will include a “Guardian’s of the Night" K9 5K Run/Walk that will begin at 7:30 AM in front of the Plex Indoor Sports. This is a certified race course and chip timing will be used for scoring. The “Guardian’s of the Night K9-5K” Run/Walk is being professionally managed by Strictly Running of Columbia, and is being organized by the Richland County Sheriff’s Department K9 Unit. The entry fee before July 22nd is $25.00, after July 22nd it's $30.00. All proceeds benefit the Richland County Sheriff's Department K9 Unit. To register, you visit www.strictlyrunning.com or contact Sgt. Kevin Hoover at 803-309-9413 or khoover@rcsd.net for more information.

Sheriff Lott is excited about the partnership with the Village at Sandhill and our Citizens for the National Night Out Kick-Off on July 30, 2011. Mr. Alan Kahn of the Village at Sandhill, stated that "corporate community partnerships are tremendously important to improving our over all quality of life and safety." Mr. Alan Kahn added that the National Night Out kickoff, on July 30th at the Village, will demonstrate the cooperation between Richland County Sheriff's Department and the Village at Sandhill in improving our community.

Sheriff Lott is thrilled to announce that Richland County is hosting a Light Bulb Exchange event in partnership with National Night Out in Sandhill. Residents will be able to “Make the Switch” -exchanging regular household bulbs for 4 energy efficient Compact Fluorescent Bulbs. The limit is 4 per person so bring the whole family! It’s a bright idea that saves green while helping you go green! This program has been made possible through the Energy Efficiency and Community Block Grant.

Sheriff Lott asks that each neighborhood contact the Community Services Division at the Sheriff’s Department at (803) 576-3118 to register your neighborhood for National Night Out on Tuesday August 2, 2011, to participate in the events or to start a crime watch. The Sheriff is offering assistance for communities in planning an event for NNO -- please contact the Community Action Team at (803) 576-3118 for ideas on how to help prevent crime and make National Night Out a success.

National Night Out began in 1984 in an effort to heighten awareness and strengthen participation in local anticrime efforts; it was felt that a high-profile, high-impact type of crime prevention event was needed nationally. "It's a wonderful opportunity for communities nationwide to promote police-community partnerships, crime prevention, and neighborhood camaraderie.

While the one night is certainly not an answer to crime, drugs and violence, National Night Out does represent the kind of spirit, energy and determination that is helping to make many neighborhoods safer places throughout the year. It is a night to celebrate safety and crime prevention successes - and to expand and strengthen programs everyday of the year.

After this event we should have a Neighborhood Crime Watch in every community and in the business community. Neighbors can organize themselves as well as business owners and tenants to talk about crime prevention in their neighborhood and business community. The Sheriffs Department Community Action Team specializes in helping individuals start and maintain their crime watch.

A study shows that 99% of all citizens will be a victim of crime and 98% of crimes can be prevented. Please allow the Sheriff’s Department to assist you in deterring crime from your neighborhood and business community.

The Sheriff’s Department also provides security analysis of your home or business for FREE. The Community Action Team will come out and conduct a security check on your home or business and provide you with tips to make your home or business safer.

National Night Out is a time for neighborhoods to fellowship and to unify for a great cause, but it is also a time to evaluate your neighborhood in order to determine what things can be improved to make it safer. The Richland County Sheriff’s Department is prepared to assist each community with making it safer and to reducing crime overall in the community.