The Metropolitan Police Department is pleased to announce that the District of Columbia placed fifth place nationally for the city’s participation in the 24th Annual National Night Out on August 7, 2007.

The festivities and events held in honor of the 24th Annual National Night Out this August 7 garnered the attention of the event's national organizers, the National Association of Town Watch. The kickoff event and dozens of other activities planned throughout the city that evening qualified the city's participation for fifth place among cities with populations of 300,000 or more. Minneapolis, MN, took first place this year, followed by Boston, MA, San Antonio, TX, and Houston/Harris County, TX.

Chief Cathy L. Lanier congratulates all of the residents, businesses, law enforcement partners and other city agencies who helped make this year's celebration such a success. "This recognition shows that our city continues to make strides in building partnerships between our police and the communities we serve,” said Chief Lanier.

Despite the heat, hundreds of residents and officers turned out for activities that took place all over the District.

The Department would like to thank the many organizations who joined us in the desperate heat to take pride in our communities and give thanks to those who work hard throughout the year to make their neighborhoods safer, more enjoyable places to live.

For the complete list of winning entries in this year's competition, please visit http://nationalnightout.org/nno/award.html.

See this year's wrap-up report submitted to the committee at www.mpdc.dc.gov/nno.