This week marked the "29th Annual National Night Out" (NNO), a unique crime/drug prevention event. Law enforcement officers from throughout the nation take part in the event in hopes of preventing crime and drugs in their communities. This year, both Hidalgo County Sheriff Lupe Trevino and Precinct 1 Constable Celestino Avila took part in community events as part of the 2012 National Night Out.

National Night Out is designed to heighten crime and drug prevention awareness, generate support for, and participation in, local anticrime programs, strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships; and send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.

Last year's National Night Out campaign involved citizens, law enforcement agencies, civic groups, businesses, neighborhood organizations and local officials from over 15,000 communities from all 50 states, U.S. territories, Canadian cities and military bases worldwide. In all, it is estimated that over 37 million people participated in National Night Out 2011.