Burgers, badges and back-up: Newport Beach turns out for National Night Out
In addition to the food, games and crafts activities the visitors also found opportunities to interact with K9 officers, the Mounted Unit, Animal Control and SWAT, and collect crime prevention tips during the annual gathering also known as 'America's Night Out Against Crime.'
At the police volunteer table, Susan Munthe and Pam Parker, both graduates of the Citizen's Police Academy, shared information about home security.
'As part of crime prevention we alert the public ways to protect their home,' said Munthe.
'The NBPD has a free home service where they visit the home,' Parker added. 'They check inside and out, tell you where to put cameras, prune back bushes, protect the placement of a safe.'
Newport Beach residents Doris and Marty Melnick said they appreciated the time the police had spent answering questions about protecting the neighborhood as a result of a previous crime event.
Nearby was the popular Mounted Unit, where NBPD horses endured lots of petting from the kids. Officer Nate Farris said the unit has expanded to four horses that are taken on frequent field trips as part of the community awareness.
'We go where there are large crowds, like the beach, Fashion Island, parks,' said Farris.
Dispatch officer Chelsea Luitwieler manned the 911 activity table where children could find coloring books, cards and games.
'These are so kids can learn what to do when they need 911 [help],' Luitwieler explained. 'The materials teach them to learn their phone numbers and address.'
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Chicago Tribune
2 days ago
- Chicago Tribune
Maine Township National Night Out included farm animals, food collection for community food pantry
Maine Township joined other municipalities and police departments nationwide to host a National Night Out event, and the township's is billed as one of the oldest celebrations. The township National Night Out Against Crime event took place Aug. 5 at Dee Park in unincorporated Des Plaines. It was among many events presented on the first Tuesday in August across the country for the annual campaign aimed at promoting police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie. Maine Township Clerk Peter Gialamas told Pioneer Press the celebration was coordinated with the Cook County sheriff's office, the Niles-based Golf Maine Park District and the Des Plaines-based North Maine Fire Protection District. 'One of the goals of National Night Out is to really bring the community and the local law enforcement together, and we've found that National Night Out does a great job of that,' said Gialamas who has chaired Maine Township's National Night Out committee for about 12 years. According to the township website, the NNO theme this year was, 'From Patrols to Partnerships, We Are In This Together.' The night offered games, entertainment, raffle prizes, activities, demos, JG's Reptile Road Show, a petting zoo, popcorn, popsicles, representatives from Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge and a safety walk. 'They get to see the police officers that are patrolling the streets on a daily basis, get to talk to them, get to see the vehicles that we use, and it really is a great way for the community to interact,' Gialamas said. Penny Mateck, from the sheriff's community relations unit, told Pioneer Press the partnership to bring National Night Out to Maine Township goes back more than 30 years. 'We want the community to feel safe. We want them to feel comfortable coming to us with questions or whatever their concerns may be,' Mateck said. 'This is a really great way in a non-enforcement kind of event to connect with the community and let them know who we are.' According to Mateck, the sheriff's office offered activities such as 911 trivia as a teaching element especially for younger children and brought out vehicles including those used by the bomb unit, police and the Special Weapons and Tactics, or SWAT, team. 'The kids can sit in the squad cars. They can sit where the police sit. They can sit in the back seat where bad guys sit,' Mateck said about how the community is engaged. 'For some reason, the kids like to sit in the back seat and check that out.' Mateck said the sheriff's office also brings one of its bomb-sniffing canine officers and some of its partner agencies bringing their K-9s. 'We're out here every year on the first Tuesday of August and it's a time where the police and the community can come together,' Mateck said. 'It's really in an effort to keep the community safe and fight crime.' The event also featured the 'Stuff the Squad' fundraising effort, which Mateck said accepts grocery donations for the Maine Township food pantry that is located in Park Ridge. 'A lot of times donations are low, so this is a way to try to help them through the summer months,' Mateck said. Maine Township includes parts of Des Plaines, Park Ridge, Niles, Glenview, Morton Grove and Rosemont. According to Maine Township's website, National Night Out, which also was sponsored by Neighborhood Watch and community businesses, Gialamas said NNO is part of an effort to educate residents on crime prevention and safety. 'It's very important that they trust the law officers that are patrolling the streets,' Gialamas said. 'Especially the young kids, if they can see them, meet them and understand they're here to help them, that is just something that continues to grow and builds trust in the community.' Mateck explained that the police and the community collaborate to combat crime. 'The community is really the eyes and ears for the police department,' Mateck said. 'They will call the police when they see something suspicious. They will tell us things that help solve crime so that partnership is really important because they're really the other portion of the team that works together to keep the community safe.'
Los Angeles Times
7 days ago
- Los Angeles Times
Burgers, badges and back-up: Newport Beach turns out for National Night Out
More than 700 people turned out Tuesday night at Bonita Canyon Sports Park for the Newport Beach Police Department's 24th annual National Night Out event. In addition to the food, games and crafts activities the visitors also found opportunities to interact with K9 officers, the Mounted Unit, Animal Control and SWAT, and collect crime prevention tips during the annual gathering also known as 'America's Night Out Against Crime.' At the police volunteer table, Susan Munthe and Pam Parker, both graduates of the Citizen's Police Academy, shared information about home security. 'As part of crime prevention we alert the public ways to protect their home,' said Munthe. 'The NBPD has a free home service where they visit the home,' Parker added. 'They check inside and out, tell you where to put cameras, prune back bushes, protect the placement of a safe.' Newport Beach residents Doris and Marty Melnick said they appreciated the time the police had spent answering questions about protecting the neighborhood as a result of a previous crime event. Nearby was the popular Mounted Unit, where NBPD horses endured lots of petting from the kids. Officer Nate Farris said the unit has expanded to four horses that are taken on frequent field trips as part of the community awareness. 'We go where there are large crowds, like the beach, Fashion Island, parks,' said Farris. Dispatch officer Chelsea Luitwieler manned the 911 activity table where children could find coloring books, cards and games. 'These are so kids can learn what to do when they need 911 [help],' Luitwieler explained. 'The materials teach them to learn their phone numbers and address.'
Los Angeles Times
7 days ago
- Los Angeles Times
National Night Out introduces first responders, community partnerships
National Night Out at Fountain Valley Sports Park saw the community interface with its uniformed personnel, the attendees taking the opportunity to get to know the people charged with protecting them. 'I think law enforcement, in general, can do a better job of telling their story,' Fountain Valley Interim Police Chief Rod Cox said. 'I think this provides the opportunity for us to tell the police story and show how much we care about the community, show our resources, show the tools that we use. 'The cops get face time with the community, visit with the kids, visit with the adults. They get to know people one on one, and it just builds our community orientation and lets people know that we're human.' The attending families stood at rapt attention as they formed a boundary around the demonstration of crime-fighting canines. K9 Pomix participated in multiple scenarios, which included chasing after a padded suit-wearing, weapon-bearing Officer Austin Pennella. Pennella played on the boys' soccer team at Fountain Valley High, where he graduated in 2020. Early exposure to others who became officers made going into law enforcement a 'natural jump,' he said. 'It's fun for me,' Pennella said of partaking in the canine showcase. 'I'm sure it's a lot more scary for the people that actually get bit without the suit. I love it. I love getting bit. I love doing the work with the canine. That's my goal long term, so being able to work with the dog as closely as I get to is a privilege.' The German shepherd has its own Instagram page, where hundreds have followed along to witness the activities of Pomix and Canine Officer Gannon Kelly. Families enjoyed interactions with police and fire personnel, some donning firefighter headgear. Children also got to sit on a police motorbike, have their sprint speed timed by a radar gun and pull on protective gear. Attendees also met members of the Fountain Valley dispatch team, radio amateur civil emergency services (RACES), the retired senior volunteer program (RSVP), and the police explorer program. The RSVP team provides a number of functions that lighten the load on law enforcement, including handling parking citations and vacation home checks. Joy Garcia, who has been involved with the program for three years, said its numbers have held firm at a few dozen. Volunteers are kept out of dangerous situations, she added. 'I'm very, very appreciative of Fountain Valley for having been able to raise my children here and to have all of these events and activities for them,' Garcia said. Cox said Fountain Valley is on the verge of starting a community emergency response team (CERT) in September. 'We'll be looking for volunteers for that,' Cox said. 'People will want to attend the CERT training. We'll start with our in-house volunteers first, if they want to go, then we'll reach out to the community and build the program from there.' Cox also mentioned the city has volunteers running a program called You Are Not Alone (YANA), which stays in communication with senior residents. Community members also visited with representatives from the Orange County district attorney's office, the Trauma Intervention Program, and with City Net, which is contracted to provide homeless services in Fountain Valley. While the evening, in some ways, was highlighted by community partnerships, it also served as a chance to remember others. Fountain Valley's National Night Out was dedicated to Bill McQuaid, the late fire chief who died on July 25. A memorial service for McQuaid will be held on Aug. 20 at 11 a.m. at Mariners Church in Irvine. As families visited the park on Tuesday, many also saw for the first time the new street signage for Ed Arnold Way. The entrance to the park was recently renamed in honor of Arnold, who was a longtime resident and sportscaster. Fountain Valley police announced this week that officers will be conducting a DUI and driver's license checkpoint on Friday, Aug. 15. Authorities said the operation would be carried out on Warner Avenue near Brookhurst Street from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m.
