Mayor John Whitmire presented a city proclamation Monday declaring Oct. 7, 2025, the 40th annual Houston–Harris County National Night Out Day and encouraged residents to attend neighborhood events across the city and county.

The proclamation and a series of remarks at a Houston Police Department news conference at the HPD Central Patrol Station emphasized community policing and interagency collaboration as the core goals of National Night Out. Officials said law enforcement’s presence at community events lets residents meet officers informally and discuss neighborhood safety.

"We're not going back," Mayor John Whitmire said, adding the city would not compromise public safety or quality-of-life issues. Whitmire presented the proclamation to Houston Police Chief Jay Noe Diaz and asked Houstonians to attend events the next evening.

Chief Jay Noe Diaz told attendees National Night Out is "essentially, it's law enforcement Super Bowl," and urged families to come to events to meet officers and take part in activities. Diaz said face-to-face interactions help the department address concerns quickly and build trust. "As law enforcement officers, we cannot do this work alone. And together with you, our community, the community that we serve, it becomes a vital part of ensuring safe neighborhoods," he said.

Sheriff Ed Gonzalez and other county and city officials echoed the call for participation and partnership. "National Night Out is really every night because public safety is a shared responsibility," Gonzalez said, inviting residents to find an event "in a community near you and engage with your neighbors."

District Attorney Sean Teer praised the collaboration among Houston and Harris County agencies and asked residents to attend events to see those partnerships in action. Commissioner Garcia thanked city leadership for raising standards and for supporting law enforcement pay and benefits, saying that respect for officers and their families is part of keeping neighborhoods safe.

Speakers also noted local developments and staffing: Chief Diaz said the department serves about 5,310 people every day and that "almost 200 cadets" are at various stages of graduation this year. Officials said officers and community members will be present in several dozen neighborhoods across the city and county during National Night Out events.

Senior Police Officer Mario C. provided remarks in Spanish to ensure the message reached Spanish-speaking communities. Sergeant Lehar of the HPD Community Engagement Unit opened the conference and thanked partner agencies and Houston residents for their participation.

The proclamation and remarks were framed as an invitation rather than a policy action; no votes or legislative decisions were recorded at the news conference. Officials encouraged attendance, community interaction with officers, and continued interagency cooperation as ways to maintain public safety.

Organizers asked residents to check Houston Police Department and Harris County communications for event locations and times on Oct. 7, 2025.