Tonight's goal is to combat crime

Last year at National Night Out, an 8-year-old boy learned what methamphetamine looked like when he visited the Federal Drug Enforcement Agency booth, said Sheriff Ken Furlong.

A few months later, a patrolman spotted the child wandering alone at night and picked him up.

"He said that he would not go home because his mom was using meth," said Furlong. "The resulting effect was " we broke the cycle of drug abuse in his home."

Tonight in Mills Park, the Carson City Sheriff's Department will play host for the seventh year in a row during National Night Out, introducing the residents to all aspects of law enforcement, from local, regional and federal agencies. This year's theme is, "Building Positive Relationships " Prevent Crime, Drugs and Gangs."

A community gathering is exactly what Carson City needs, said Furlong, especially in the shadow of a gang shooting in East Carson where gang members, angry that residents stopped them from tagging mailboxes, opened fire on an apartment complex.

"This event and that shooting are directly connected," Furlong said. "This is our community. We cannot cower to those cowards."

Representatives from the Nevada Highway Patrol, Parole and Probation, Nevada Division of Investigations, Tri-Net Drug Taskforce, the Carson City Fire Department, Homeland Security Office, Federal Drug Enforcement Agency,  Army National Guard, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps, as well as the Carson City Sheriff's Department's Neighborhood Watch coordinator, K9 program, Secret Witness and many other organizations will be on hand to display their equipment and talk to the community.

Hot dogs and soda are provided free of charge by Safeway and Target.

Reminiscent of community picnics of days gone by, today's gathering has a more contemporary purpose outside of meeting your neighbors.

"If people want to show that they will not be bullied, come out and join us. It is a great event," said Furlong.

- Contact reporter F.T. Norton at ftnorton@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1213.