NJ Cops September 2016 | Page 66

National Night Out Cranford Local 53 participates in Members of Cranford Local 53 prepare for the town’s National Night Out on Aug. 2. The Cranford Cougar and McGruff the Crime Dog pose with local kids during the National Night Out. For the 33rd Annual National Night Out, a program developed by the National Association of Town Watch, Cranford Local 53 joined thousands of communities across the U.S. and went all out for its town’s kids. On Aug. 2 from 6-9 p.m. at Patrolman Robert F. Hand Plaza and on the front lawn of the Cranford Police Department headquarters, residents were offered the opportunity to interact with members of local law enforcement in an informal setting. They were also able to obtain information about the department’s many youth, educational, safety and public awareness programs. The free annual event began in 1984 as an effort to promote involvement in crime preve