BROWNSBURG — They’re planning to give crime and drugs a going away party. Not a celebratory “we’re going to miss you” party, but more of a “don’t ever come back again” party.

To do that, the Brownsburg Police Department is once again hosting the annual Night Out Against Crime event from 6-9 p.m. Aug. 4 at the Town of Brownsburg Municipal Grounds.

The event gives residents in Brownsburg the chance to come out and get to know the police officers that patrol their streets, as well as showing criminals that they are not welcome in their community.

Major Mike Dove, assistant chief of police for the department, said the event is completely free.

“There will be over 45 booths and displays this year. It’s also a good way for people to network, we’ll also have the Hendricks County Substance Abuse Task Force to collect unwanted prescription drugs, and we’ll also have a shredding truck there to shred personal documents,” Dove said. “There will be hot dogs, Coney dogs, the Salvation Army is helping out, the Lions Club will be doing corn on the cob, John Force Racing will have a car on display, Del’s Performance Cycles will be there with really cool motorcycles.”

The band Dave and Rae will provide entertainment, there will be a tent for people to sit and listen, and participants are encouraged to bring lawn chairs. Dove said there will also be a bounce house, climbing wall, prizes, and games for the children.

“There will be something for the young and old, just a ton of stuff,” he said.

Last year 3,000 people attended the event. Dove said they are hoping to have 5,000 this year. They are also having a documentary made with the help of Steve “Papaw” Pyatte and Daniel Risk of Risk Productions.

“(It shows) where we’ve been, where we are, and where we’re going to go to keep it a safe community,” Dove said. “How the community has come together in those efforts and we want to keep it as safe as we possibly can. We’re going to create it for a contest, a documentary of this whole thing, all the communities coming together for one cause.”

Dove said one of the best things about the event is how the different town organizations and local businesses have come together to put the event in place.

“We have used zero taxpayer dollars on this event,” Dove said. “It’s been either through donations, giving people in the town, or we’ve used asset forfeiture funds. We just want everybody in Brownsburg to come in and have a good time for free.”

Dove said one important aspect of the event is getting to meet and interact with police officers.

“It’s also a strong way to bond a relationship between the police department and the community. We try to encourage them to just go up and talk to an officer, sit down, take a look at the equipment, talk about what they do every day,” he said. “We’ve got a great bunch of (officers) here. We select some of the best around, and we retain some of the best around. For a department this size, we do a (great) job and we want the public to see that.

“It does send a clear message that if the criminal element sees this kind of program going on, they’re less likely to come out here and want to do crime to our community.”

Dove asks that anyone attending the event park in Arbuckle Acres Park, which is across the street from the municipal grounds.

“We’ll be directing traffic, and have golf carts for handicapped people,” he said. “The big thing is sending a strong message to the criminal element that they’re not wanted. And with today’s economy, it’s a way for everyone to come (and have a good time).”

The newly formed Brownsburg SR 267 Action Committee will also have a booth at the event with information about the proposed INDOT construction project on State Road 267. They will have petitions available, as well as sample letters to send to INDOT.

For more information on the Night Out Against Crime, visit the website, Natw.org.



charlee.beasor@flyergroup.com