Shreveport and Bossier City officials want folks to attend 'Night Out' events

            We're constantly on the move - work, play, and family-time - but taking a night off to meet the people who live right next to you needs to be a priority.

"A lot of times we get caught up in what we're doing, we don't take time to get to know our neighbors or meet them," said Bill Goodin, Shreveport Police Dept.

            Local officials hope this year's "Night Out Against Crime" will give you the opportunity to say hi, and start building relationships that can keep crime off your street.

"At the end of the day its about meeting people we work for.  Letting them put that face to that name.  Know that we're there working for them," said Goodin.

            Officers, firefighters, and elected officials will make the rounds of every block party signed up with the city.

             Part of keeping your neighborhood safe is as easy is walking out your front door, grabbing a chair and getting out, and greeting your neighbors.

"You don't have to register with the police department to have night out event," said Mark Natale, City of Bossier City.

            Natale just wants to get people out of the house and face-to-face with their neighbors.

"Know them personally, know when they're at home, when they're at work... you can help reduce crime," said Natale.

            However, some get-togethers get a bigger crowd every year.

            Like the "Night Out" event at Hooter Park in the Barksdale Annex neighborhood.

"They have a brief parade, a "March for Jesus"... Ends up here at park at which time they have a program police chief is here says a few words," said Natale.