Spring Lake board hears National Night Out presentation

What happened: Town officials heard a presentation on National Night Out from police Capt. Jeff Stafford and accepted a budget amendment that recognizes more than $40,000 in state grant money to be used to purchase radios and Tasers for the police department.

Why it matters: The Aug. 3 event is designed to bring crime prevention awareness to residents while sending a unified message to criminals, Stafford said.

This will be the first year that Spring Lake has participated in National Night Out, and officials said the event could go a long way towards instilling trust in rebuilding the department that might have been lost after county officials effectively stripped them of their police powers for more than half of last year.

What they said: "We're looking forward to a lot of people showing up," Stafford said. "It looks to be a good time."

What's next: National Night Out will take place next to the town's recreation center on Ruth Street on Aug. 3 from 6 to 9 p.m.

- Drew Brooks