Yesterday, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland, Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco, and Acting Associate Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer participated in the 41st Annual National Night Out (NNO). Their involvement underscores the Justice Department’s partnerships with federal, state, and local law enforcement as part of its Comprehensive Strategy for Reducing Violent Crime.
Established in 1984 through a Bureau of Justice Assistance grant from the Justice Department, NNO aims to build relationships between communities and law enforcement, promote police-community partnerships, and enhance neighborhood camaraderie. The campaign provides an opportunity for positive interactions between police and neighbors.
This year’s NNO comes amid a decline in violent crime nationwide following an increase during the pandemic in 2020. FBI data indicates a decrease in violent crime across the country in 2023 compared to the previous year, including a more than 13% reduction in homicides—the steepest yearly decline in over 50 years. Early data from 2024 suggests this trend is continuing.
“Each year, National Night Out gives communities across the country the chance to celebrate and strengthen their partnerships with law enforcement,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “This was a particularly meaningful National Night Out because it came after our country experienced one of the lowest nationwide violent crime rates in 50 years this past year. The Justice Department will never stop working to build on this progress because every person, in every neighborhood, in every community deserves to be safe from violent crime.”
Attorney General Garland attended NNO events in Des Moines, Iowa. He was joined by First Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Kahl for the Southern District of Iowa at an event hosted by the Urbandale Police Department where they engaged with local law enforcement and community members.
This week, Garland met with prosecutors and law enforcement partners from several U.S. Attorneys’ Offices including those for Nevada, Eastern Wisconsin, Northern Iowa, and Southern Iowa. In Nevada, he discussed efforts under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force program with U.S. Attorney Jason Frierson; while in Wisconsin he met with Milwaukee Sheriff Denita Ball and Police Chief Jeffrey Norman about reducing violent crime and fentanyl presence on streets.
Deputy Attorney General Monaco attended two NNO events in Cincinnati alongside U.S. Attorney Kenneth Parker for Southern Ohio and Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge. She visited Westwood and Roselawn neighborhoods discussing public safety efforts with community leaders and law enforcement officials.
Monaco also visited Cincinnati's Crime Gun Intelligence Center (CGIC) which integrates ATF special agents with local authorities to identify unlawfully used firearms swiftly using advanced technologies like NIBIN and eTrace systems.
Prior to her Cincinnati visitations, Monaco delivered a keynote address at the Women in Federal Law Enforcement Foundation’s 25th anniversary celebration emphasizing women’s crucial role within law enforcement.
Acting Associate Attorney General Mizer joined U.S. Attorney Michael F. Easley Jr., Special Agent Benny Mims of ATF Charlotte Field Division, and U.S Marshal Glenn McNeill Jr., attending two NNO events at Tarboro Road Community Center and The Village at Washington Terrace discussing key issues affecting Raleigh residents.
The participation of these officials highlights ongoing collaboration among federal entities such as Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative aimed at reducing gun violence across various districts.