Township Claims National Night Out Award for the Second Time in Three Years

The Gloucester Township Police Department earned first place in the State of New Jersey for its participation in National Night Out for the second time in three years, and will be recognized by Mayor David Meyer for its achievement at the next council meeting, the department announced on Friday.

The department earned first place in the state and 21st overall in the country. Meyer will present the department with an award from the National Town Watch Council at the Feb. 10 council meeting.

"The success of our National Night Out Program is the result of our National Night Out/Town Watch Leaders, residents, local businesses, government officials, the dedication of the Gloucester Township Police Community Relations Bureau and all the men and women of the Gloucester Township Police Department who have partnered together in making National Night Out a continued success,” Gloucester Township Police Chief Harry Earle said.

The police department competes in Category 3, which represents towns with an overall population between 49,999 and 99,999.

The department also took first place in 2011.

This year, over 37.5 Million people in 15,704 communities from all 50 states, U.S. Territories and military bases worldwide participated in National Night Out, an event started in 1984 to promote crime prevention activities, police-community partnerships and establish neighborhood camaraderie against crime.

If you would like to participate in this year's National Night Out, or if you want to find out more about how you can partner with the police department to make Gloucester Township a safer community, contact the Gloucester Township Police Department Community Relations Bureau Lt. Brendan Barton and Ptl. Jenn McLaughlin at 228-4011 or email: communityrelations@gtpolice.com.