Law enforcement agents in Chula Vista and National City came together with their respective communities Tuesday night at the annual National Night Out event to build relationships with the people they serve and protect.
The 33rd National Night Out event was held across the country to increase awareness about police programs in the community and improve police-community relations.
In Chula Vista many residents like Eduardo Nuñez showed up to meet the people who keeps his west Chula Vista neighborhood safe.
“We see cops almost on an every day basis but we hardly get to interact with each other,” Nuñez said. “So this is a wonderful opportunity to just say hello to Chula Vista’s finest and see them in a more human light.”
Chula Vista police held their National Night Out event in front of the police station at 315 Fourth Ave. where they had an array of booths highlighting many resources and services that are offered to the community as well as a K-9 and Mobile Field Force demonstrations.
Residents learned about Chula Vista’s graffiti removal program Buff-A Block and the Community Emergency Response Team. There were other booths that displayed the senior volunteer program, a body worn camera experience and old police equipment shown at the Chula Vista Police Historical Foundation booth.
“Our police force have so much to offer our community besides patrolling our streets,” Nuñez said. “I as a resident of Chula Vista appreciate all the resources that are out there.”
Chula Vista Police Chief Roxanna Kennedy has been with the police department for more than 25 years but this year was her first National Night Out as the city’s police chief.
“It’s wonderful to be able to be out here and experience the partnership with the community,” she said. “I don’t know if it has anything different to do with the (position as) chief but people are very interested in talking with me and that makes me feel good because it gives me an opportunity to talk about how great our department is.”
Kennedy said she heard from residents Tuesday night about concerns they have about traffic, homelessness and quality of life issues facing their neighborhoods.
Some Chula Vista police officers were at National Night Out on their own time; others flexed their time, meaning they worked a partial shift at the event and the rest out in the field, and a few were on duty, said Police Capt. Fritz Reber.
National City celebrated its 13th National Night Out on Tuesday with family-friendly activities. The event at Kimball Park drew large crowds of families to interact with police officers and participate in some of the activities available such as a Bike Rodeo, FBI youth academy thumb printing exhibition and CPR training.
Attendees also got to see a K-9 demonstration, a police helicopter flyover and view SWAT equipment and police motorcycles. The police department ended the night with a movie at the park.
“The relationship in our city (between the police and the public) is very good,” said National City acting lieutenant Chris Sullivan. “We believe that community engagement is the core principal that ultimately makes this community and partnership work.”
Much like Chula Vista, National City offers also worked the event on either their own time; some were also already scheduled for duty, Sullivan said.
