Photo Gallery: National Night Out

More than 30 neighborhoods across Alexandria recognized National Night Out on Tuesday evening with block parties, cookouts and other events.

City officials partnered with the neighborhoods, the Alexandria Police Department, Sheriff’s Office and Fire Department for the nationwide crime and drug prevention effort sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch.

At the event in the field next to in Del Ray, Alexandria Mayor Bill Euille told the crowd National Night Out is one of his favorite events of the year. He even came back from vacation on the Eastern Shore just for the night to attend as many of the neighborhood events as time would allow.

“Crime is at an historic low in Alexandria,” Euille said, adding that it was cause for celebration and to offer gratitude to the city’s police force.

In March, it was announced that Alexandria’s Part 1 crime statistics were at their lowest since 1966.

Neighborhood associations in Lynhaven, Hume Springs and Warwick Village also held barbecues where police officers, sheriff’s deputies and first-responders stopped by to show off their vehicles and equipment, mingle and grab a bite to eat.