Police officers teamed up with citizens, shooting hoops and playing foosball to show the value of teamwork between a community and police.
Matt Peskin of Wynnewood founded National Night Out in 1984 and said it's grown from people sitting out with their porch lights on to a national event meant to encourage community building.
"I just think the variety of events, the people are much more creative. There's a photo booth that we're going to have, that if you don't know your neighbor, you can go in the photo booth together and win a Ring doorbell," Peskin said.
That doorbell camera technology with the ability to pool videos may help police track suspects more quickly, but it's no substitute for knowing your neighbors, said Capt. Gene Pasternak of the Lower Merion Police Department.
"If something does occur, you're going to be identified by the neighborhood. They're going to come out, they're going to call the police. They're going to assist us, we're going to work together. I don't think there's any greater deterrent value than that," he said.