TODAY’S COLUMN: National Night Out promotes partnerships between police and neighborhoods

Tonight, communities across the nation will gather with their local law enforcement departments to recognize National Night Out.

National Night Out is an annual program that promotes partnerships between police and neighborhoods in order to build and maintain relationships that make our communities safer.

Words cannot express how grateful I am to our men and women who serve in uniform. They selflessly risk their life every day in order to keep us safe. No matter what, we can always count on our local law enforcement to be there when we need them the most.

That is why the House of Delegates continues to make supporting our law enforcement a top priority. In this year’s budget, we increased aid to local police departments, provided additional funding for safety and training, and allocated funds for additional officers.

This November 8th, you’ll have an opportunity to vote on a constitutional amendment, which I sponsored, that would allow localities the option of giving property tax relief to the surviving spouse of an emergency first responder (i.e. police, fire fighters, EMTs) who is killed in the line of duty. I hope you will join me in voting ‘yes’ on this important constitutional amendment.

If you do attend your community’s National Night Out, please have a wonderful evening alongside your local law enforcement.

Del. Tim Hugo can be reached at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or (703) 815-1201.