By Jordan Puckett
Sun staff

The Milford Police Department, along with Miami Township, will host the city’s second annual National Night Out on August 6.

The event is held “to promote involvement in crime prevention activities, police-community partnerships, neighborhood camaraderie and send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back,” according to the National Night Out organization. The event was started in 1984 by Matt Peskin, executive director of the National Association of Town Watch.

The City of Milford held its first celebration last year. More than 1,500 people were in attendance. Police Chief Jamey Mills hopes this year’s celebration will bring in even more.

“We’re going to have a concert, free food, and we’re trying to get a jumphouse for the kids,” Mills said. “The police department is bringing in special equipment to put on display for the public. There will be a lot of neat things to do this year.”

The band Most Wanted will perform at Milford’s National Night Out this year. The band is made up of members of police agencies throughout Hamilton County and teaches kids about the dangers of drugs.

“Thanks to our sponsors, the entire event is free to the public,” Mills said. “I especially want to thank Lykins Oil, one of our main sponsors. I also want to thank Sora’s Towing for sponsoring our food.”

Brian Wykoff, chaplain of the Milford fire and police departments, spoke about the event at a recent Milford city council meeting.

“It’s a time for the community to come out and get the kids ready to kick up and gear up for school and be hand in hand with our police and fire department,” Wykoff said. “We’re bringing in people from the State Highway Patrol and Clermont County. Other communities will have their forces with us too.” In its inaugural year, the National Night Out was celebrated in more than 400 different communities across 23 states, involving more than two million Americans. Since then, the event has grown considerably. Now over 15,000 communities from every U.S. State and Territory take part in the annual celebration, along with some Canadian cities and U.S. Military bases.

This year’s event will take place from 6-9 p.m. in the Target parking lot on River’s Edge Road. Target is a national sponsor for the National Night Out.