The Free Press, Mankato, MN

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July 17, 2012

Our View: Sign up for Night to Unite

The Free Press

— The city of Mankato and its public safety department are making extra efforts this year to get the community involved in city decisions and understanding community policing starts with the community.

We applaud the effort.

Mankato Public Safety Director Todd Miller has put the word out early for people to sign up for neighborhood gatherings where officials from the city and public safety department will visit and talk about crime, snowplowing or anything on the community’s mind.

The Mankato “Night to Unite” event will be held around the city on Aug. 28 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Last year, there were about 40 neighborhood events and this year Miller hopes to get 50. The deadline for registration is Aug. 21. North Mankato will hold its Night to United on Aug. 7.

The nights are also a chance for people to get to meet and know their neighbors. Opening up this kind of communication and familiarity allows neighbors to watch for suspicious vehicles in their neighborhood and advise each other on watching their home when they’re away.

Mankato generally has no more crime than other cities its size, but there have been rashes of vandalism and break-ins around town this year. Police say most of those could be prevented by people making sure they’re locking their doors, closing their garage at night and locking their vehicles.

Night to Unite offers opportunities for neighbors to hear from police how to crime proof their homes and neighborhoods. In some cases neighborhood watches can be formed. Residents of Mankato can also fill out an online police form at http://tinyurl.com/cofzjzn.

The events also give Mankato Police officers a chance to get to know people in their newly formed community policing neighborhoods. Officers are assigned certain neighborhoods to focus on during down times, and these events give them a chance to get to know people they serve.

Key to this year’s Night to Unite is the inclusion of returning students from area colleges. Miller moved the date to later in the month so students would be back in town and around to participate.

We know many of the policing conflicts come up when students get back in school whether it be issues with moving through neighborhoods at night or parking.

Mankato also has a history of coming together on Night to Unite. The Highland Park neighborhood not far from MSU has been having the event for years and residents there note it has been very good event for getting to know your neighbors and connecting with some of MSU students on things like parking. Dozens of other neighborhoods also have participated.

We urge residents and neighborhoods to sign up for the Night to Unite events in Mankato and North Mankato and the events held in other jurisdictions.



Night to Unite events

Mankato: Tuesday, Aug. 28, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Registration due Aug. 21.

Website for more information and to register

http://tinyurl.com/84b6h8b



North Mankato: Tuesday, Aug. 7, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

(coincides with statewide Night to Unite)

Call North Mankato Police Department for more information

625-4141.



Website for more information: http://tinyurl.com/7ahp4oa

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