UPDATE: Tuesday, August 4, 2009 --- 8:50 p.m.
REPORTER: Chris Woodard

Tonight a neighborhood with a violent history works to change it's image.

One man and his daughter are living proof, things are getting better.

From the playground to the court it's easy to see how popular South Madison's Penn Park is. But too often in the past it's been busy for the wrong reasons, a magnet for trouble.

Mother LeeAnne Banks says, "There are times when it gets busy or difficult and that's the time we talk to neighborhood police."

Parents like Banks don't have to look far tonight.

For a neighborhood that's had it's share of problems in the past people here say it's nice to see police in this setting when everything is peaceful.

Music and food highlight this National Night Out gathering, building relationships between police and people that are making a difference.

Father Willie Golden says, "Actually this is good progress because it's actually calmed down since I've been here."

Golden and his daughter are a living example that things are getting better.

He says, "When she was little, like when I first came I'd take her right there, closer to the house. I wouldn't ever bring her here (to the park)."

Others say they still don't feel completely safe letting their kids go to the park and with so much good news about crime numbers going down in Madison it's still the quality of life crimes and perception police need help fighting.

Chief Noble Wray says, "We can deal with gangs. We can deal with drugs. But a sense of safety is all about how people connect on a personal level."

Banks says, "It's really the people that own the neighborhood that make the biggest difference."

In this neighborhood it's change for the better.

New this year at Madison's National Night Out gatherings members of the 911-center came to talk to people.

In South Madison new 911-center director John Dejung assured residents they're there to serve you.

He says, "If you see anything that looks out of place, any kind of suspicious activity, anything that you think the police need to come out to take a look at never hesitate to call 911."

Dejung says he wants people to know it's O-K to call 911 if you ever have any question.

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Posted Tuesday, July 28, 2009 --- 10:55 a.m.

Madison, WI. July 28, 2009 – Dane County Sheriff David Mahoney invites citizens to attend the Sheriff’s Office 26th Annual National Night Out (NNO).

NNO is a drug and crime prevention event hosted across the country by law enforcement agencies and crime prevention organizations. The event is an opportunity for residents to promote police-community partnerships, crime prevention, and neighborhood camaraderie.

The Sheriff’s Office will be hosting events at two locations on Tuesday, August 4th.

Citizens from western Dane County can go to Wisconsin Heights High School, located at 10173 US Highway 14 in the town of Black Earth, from 5:00 to 8:00 pm.

This free family-focused event will include police, fire, and EMS equipment, athletes from the Badger Women’s Hockey Team, and McGruff the Crime Dog.

For residents of eastern Dane County, the NNO event will be held at the Deerfield Elementary School, located at 340 W. Quarry Street in Deerfield, also from 5:00 to 8:00 pm.

Both events will include displays from specialized units within the Dane County Sheriff’s Office such as K9’s, Boat Patrol, the Tactical Response Team, and Motorcycle Patrol.

A US Army Blackhawk helicopter will be landing and taking off from both locations.

National Night Out strengthens neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships, sending a message to criminals that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.