Suffolk’s National Night Out celebration has placed in the top five for the 10th year in a row against communities nationwide in its population category.

The city won second place in the 50,000 to 100,000 category, beat out by Maple Grove, Minn. Celebrations are judged based on a video of the event and a notebook of materials.

“National Night Out represents just one of the many opportunities our department takes to connect with the community,” Maj. Stephanie Burch said Wednesday in announcing the award to the City Council.

Events like National Night Out are especially important for law enforcement agencies to have an avenue to connect with the community and build relationships, Burch said.

“National Night Out offers those opportunities to open up dialogue, to share a meal together and to share lighthearted conversation,” she said.

The city’s event has been first in the nation three times — 2008, 2009 and 2014.

National Night Out, held the second Tuesday every August, features communities coming together for neighborhood celebrations with public safety officials. Neighborhoods often have cookouts, children’s activities and more, and they are visited by a caravan of police officers, firefighters, elected officials and others.