Taking stance against violence

It took a street crime involving a gun to bring Linda Robb's neighborhood together.

After living in the same area near 54th and Boyd Streets for the past 30 years, Robb and her neighbors gathered in the street after a half-dozen homes were damaged in a shooting in March. No one was injured, but Robb and her neighbors were angry.

“This is our neighborhood, and we all want to feel safe,” she said.

So, they started a neighborhood watch group and call themselves the “Watchdoggers.”

For the first time ever, Robb's neighborhood will participate in the 27th annual National Night Out — a nationwide event that encourages neighbors to get together, and partner with law enforcement agencies, to make their neighborhoods safe.

This year's event takes place Tuesday, and for neighborhoods in Nebraska and southwest Iowa, it's about more than just fighting crime. It's a social gathering: a time for community members, police officers and firefighters to get to know one another.

More than 50 neighborhoods in the Omaha metropolitan area are participating this year. There will be potlucks, pizza parties, ice cream socials, a watermelon feed and even a pig roast.

Mark Alba, community resource officer in Council Bluffs, said there will be a casual National Night Out celebration Tuesday in the Target store's parking lot. He's hoping for a large crowd and said people are welcome to come and go throughout the evening.

Russ Lloyd, a Lincoln police officer, expects to send officers to a few dozen parties Tuesday. He said most will be small gatherings in homes and yards.

Omaha Police Department Officer Jennifer Nelson, organizer for National Night Out, said the event sends a message to criminals that neighborhoods are strong and organized and care about what happens.

“When neighbors look out for each other and report crime, I think it goes a long way in creating a safe neighborhood that is resistant to crime,” Nelson said.

Officers from the Omaha Police and Fire Departments will attend the parties to answer questions or discuss concerns people have. Nelson said it gives people a chance to talk to police officers and firefighters one-on-one, in a friendly atmosphere.

“The only time they see us is when something bad is happening,” she said. “So it's nice to go there for a good reason that's not revolving around crime.”

Robb expects about 30 people at the Watchdoggers gathering. There will be pizza, pop and potluck-style desserts. They're thinking of doing a nighttime walk through the neighborhood with flashlights and dogs.

Robb said creating the neighborhood watch group has helped build relationships.

“We should have done this a long time ago,” she said. “We want to let people know that we have a group of people united together, and unity is strength.”

Many neighborhoods in Bellevue have been celebrating National Night Out for about 10 years. Community Policing Coordinator Jayme Krueger said there are usually about 80 parties, making it difficult to get officers to every party.

“A lot of people just have that small town neighborhood mentality and want to get involved,” she said. “It's something all the neighborhoods really enjoy.”

Bellevue's Olde Towne neighborhood will hold its second National Night Out party at Washington Park. Amber Yancey, block captain for the neighborhood watch, said 750 hot dogs are on her grocery list for the party. Last year, they had almost 300 people attend and served 400 hot dogs. This year she hopes to double that.

“Having it in the park is just a nice, comfortable environment,” she said. “It really gets everyone out talking to each other, looking out for each other.”

In the Windy Heights neighborhood, near 50th and Fort Streets in Omaha, Nate Jackson is footing the $225 bill for a 60-pound pig. It will be stuffed with two or three chickens and pineapples and roasted all day. There will also be hot dogs and hamburgers, and everyone will bring a side dish.

This year marks Windy Heights' fifth National Night Out celebration.

Jackson doesn't mind paying — he sees it as a way to bring people together and keep his neighborhood safe.

“It's important to get to know the new neighbors and kids,” he said. “You have to start at an early age with these kids to keep them out of trouble.”

Contact the writer:

444-1543, sarah.reinecke@owh.com