(Springfield, IL) — Don’t be surprised to see your local police officers in your park or neighborhood. Tonight is National Night Out, the night designed to get police into their communities that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods safer, more caring places to live. Nearly 200 communities across the state are planning Night Out events. National Night Out started back in 1984, and organizers say it’s grown into an annual event in thousands of communities across the country since then. Assumption, Bloomington, Champaign, Decatur, Glenwood, Moweaqua, Riverton and Springfield will be local communities in the area taking part in the event.