Dozens of neighborhoods throughout Brown County celebrated National Night Out on Tuesday by hosting a variety of block parties and events to meet their neighbors, police, city officials and area first responders.

Neighborhoods held these cookouts, pot-lucks, games, and other activities to help heighten crime and drug prevention awareness in their neighborhoods. National Night Out also helped neighbors get to know each other and strengthen relationships between residents and local law enforcement.

“This is Brown County’s fifth year to participate in National Night Out,” said Ray Tipton, Executive Director for the Brownwood Area Chamber of Commerce and co-organizer for National Night Out in Brown County.  “This is always a great event where residents get to know the people that live around them so they can keep their neighborhoods safe.”

Relationships with local law enforcement and first responders are also an important goal for National Night Out.

“This event also helps promote good community relations with police, firefighters and EMS,” Tipton said. “We coordinate this event with area law enforcement agencies, and we hope these parties are the first step in developing neighborhood watch programs.”

Local participating sponsors for the 2014 National Night Out include Heart of Texas Crime Stoppers, 3M Company, Allegiance Ambulance, Wal-Mart, ATMOS Energy, Heart of Texas EMS, KYOX, Oncor, TexasBank, Weldon Wilson Electric and Thrivent Financial.

CLICK HERE for a BrownwoodNews.com Facebook photo gallery of National Night Out parties in Brownwood Tuesday night.