BALTIMORE COUNTY — It's a tradition, always the first Tuesday in August
It's National Night Out and Baltimore joined the rest of the country hanging out with neighbors and community police.
In Baltimore County There was a community party on New Town Boulevard in Owings Mills.
County leaders, police and other first responders were enjoying free food, live music, and most importantly interaction with the people they serve.
“We can’t just do police work and assume that communities are going to be safer," said Melissa Hyatt, Baltimore County Police Chief. "It has to be a collaboration between our neighbors and residents in the community along with the police officers that are there everyday.”
In the city there was plenty of food and fun planned for the National Night Out celebration in the Goodnow neighborhood.
Organizers strive for good relationships all year long and not just on this one night.
"This is a friendly place, a welcoming place," said Gloria Jenkins, Director of the Goodnow Community Center. "We're a very diverse community and we have lots of good times."
National Night Out was started back in the 1970s in the Philadelphia suburbs and it's grown. There were 50 celebrations in Baltimore County alone tonight.
