Community Corner
Photos: National Night Out in Newport
After a three year hiatus, the Newport Beach Police Department spends Tuesday's National Night Out sharing crime prevention resources at Bonita Canyon Sports Park.
Dozens of residents participated in National Night Out Tuesday at Bonita Canyon Sports Park.
Newport Beach Police Deputy Chief David McGill said the department took a three year hiatus from participating in National Night Out, but made an effort Tuesday to mingle with residents in a relaxed environment.
"This is a new attempt, since the program was on hold for three years for the community to come out and mingle with the police in a different kind of environment, more intimate and personal," McGill said. "Residents can learn about tools to fight crime, it's especially good for kids."
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Police passed out information on crime and drug prevention, home security, child safety, the Citizens’ Police Academy, and Volunteers In Policing. CSI, SWAT, K-9 Officers, animal control and several police vehicles were also on display and served as photo opportunities for children and residents alike.
Volunteer Judy Johnson told Patch everyone should be an ambassador for the police department's goal of enforcing safety in the community, while Joel Gerson, a police volunteer, said "there is no safe haven."
Find out what's happening in Newport Beach-Corona Del Marwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
National Night Out started 29 years ago by National Association of Town Watch as a crime prevent tool for police and a way for neighbors to meet each other. The first National Night Out was marked on the first Tuesday of August in a simple way: residents turned on their porch lights and sat on their front porch.
