A mild summer night served up slap bracelets, law enforcement stickers, hot dogs, and chances to don tactical gear or pose atop a traffic officer’s motorcycle Tuesday in Santa Maria.
From 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., Rotary Centennial Park in Santa Maria filled up with law enforcement officers and community members of all ages on Tuesday for National Night Out, organized by the Santa Maria Police Department, the Recreation and Parks Department and People for Leisure and Youth Inc.
“The purpose is for the community and the Police Department to strengthen our partnerships and focus on making a better quality of life, reducing crime, and just for them to come out and interact with us,” Chief Marc Schneider said. “It’s nice to be able to come out and talk to people and meet us in a different way than a traffic stop or some other enforcement.”
Assorted law enforcement vehicles and other equipment sat on display for youths to climb onto and into while officers stood nearby to answer questions and pose for pictures.
“Can we try it on?” one young visitor asked about Officer Rafael Pacheco’s bulletproof vest and other gear.
Other law enforcement agencies participating included the California Highway Patrol, the Guadalupe Police Department, the Allan Hancock College Police Department, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office and the Santa Maria City Rangers.
The Santa Maria Fire Department set up its behemoth ladder truck that proved to be a popular attraction.
Assorted community organizations and other city agencies, including Fighting Back Santa Maria Valley and the Santa Maria Public Library bookmobile, also were on hand with booths to provide information.
A number of local businesses and organizations stepped up as sponsors of the event, where free hot dogs were served.
National Night Out occurs in states across the country with Santa Maria being one of 300 communities in California to hold the event on the first Tuesday in August.
— Noozhawk North County editor Janene Scully can be reached at jscully@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.
