Montgomery County police hosted block parties at six locations Tuesday, Aug. 4, for National Night Out in the 1st District, the department's jurisdiction covering Potomac and Rockville.

The events ran from 6 to 8 p.m. at Mt. Calvary Baptist Church (608 N. Horners Lane), Westside at Shady Grove (16210 Columbus Ave.), College Gardens Park (615 College Pkwy.), Parkway Woods (12933 Twinbrook Parkway) and Whalen Commons (19701 Fisher Ave. in Poolesville). Park Overlook Recreation Center (8000 Needwood Road) held a shorter session from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Rockville Police and the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office also joined the Mt. Calvary Baptist Church event, according to MyMCMedia.

More than two dozen National Night Out gatherings took place countywide, bringing together residents, first responders and community groups. The 5th District's event at Montgomery College in Germantown was projected to draw approximately 1,500 attendees based on MoCoShow's July 31 preview, offering a sense of the event's scale across the county.

County Executive Marc Elrich previewed the evening in his July 31 newsletter, writing: "These block parties are also about getting to know the people who show up when you need help — so they're not strangers." He also welcomed MCPD Assistant Chief Darren Francke to his media briefing that week to discuss the annual event's benefits.

The outreach comes amid declining crime countywide. MCPD's 2025 annual report showed gun assaults fell 53%, carjackings dropped 35% and incidents of gunfire decreased 18% compared with the prior year, according to the county executive's office.

The campaign runs every August nationwide.

Residents looking to stay connected with local police can contact the MCPD 1st District station in Rockville. Free gun locks are available to the public at each district station, including the 1st District.