McGruff Has a DC Night Out

McGruff joined up with the Latino Liaison Unit of Washington’s Metropolitan Police Department to spread the word about safety to hundreds of kids and their parents.

By Jeff Broderson, NCPC Staff

McGruff the Crime Dog and NCPC partnered with the Washington, DC, Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs and the Metropolitan Police Department’s Latino Liaison Unit for DC Night Out on August 4. For the third consecutive year, the site of the celebration was the heart of Adams Morgan, a Washington neighborhood with a large Latino population. The event was attended by more than 500 local residents and countless passersby.

The event supported the local community, promoted safety, and improved the relationship between local residents and the MPD. Throughout the day, McGruff and members of the Latino Liaison Unit gave out school supplies to kids and information on how to stay safe at home, in school, and in their neighborhood. All of the kids had their pictures taken with McGruff and a Latino Liaison Unit officer. Parents also received giveaways on how to keep their children safe along with home and neighborhood safety tips. Food was provided by the MPD and everyone enjoyed the music from DC radio El Zol 99.1 FM.

Other agencies there included the DC Public Library; DC Water and Sewers Authority; the DC Fire Department; the U.S. Secret Service, which provided free child ID and fingerprinting; and other nonprofits, including the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

The event was a proactive way to tell residents how to stay safe. The enhanced relationship between local residents and members of the Latino Liaison Unit will help the at-risk community and reduce crime in the area. The Office of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs and the Latino Liaison Unit plan to have more events, including their first Celebrate Safe Communities event in October, in order to continue building a strong relationship with local residents.

Have you held an event with McGruff? If you’d like to see it in Catalyst, just email jbroderson@ncpc.org.

Photos courtesy of El Zol 99.1 FM.