Shoot the breeze with the SWAT team, explore a Navy patrol boat and maybe meet a police dog while you eat a free hot dog.
The Seal Beach Police Department will take part Tuesday evening in the National Night Out, an event aimed at lowering crime rates, raising awareness of local anti-crime efforts and helping people get to know their local law enforcement officers.
From 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Eisenhower Park, members of the SBPD, Seal Beach Marine Safety Department, Orange County Fire Authority, California Highway Patrol and the Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station will be on hand to teach people about what they do and how they do it. The event will also feature a fundraiser for the victims of .
Please check out photos from last year's event by clicking the picture at the top right of this story.
Todd De Voe, the police department emergency services manager, said the event gives locals a chance to "interact with law enforcement on a positive note, instead of getting pulled over for a ticket.”
“It’s a way for them to interact with us in a fun way, not in a distressed way,” De Voe said.
According to the National Night Out website, last year about 37 million people in 15,110 communities in America, Canada and military bases took part in the event. This year will be the 29th National Night Out and the fifth year for the city.
De Voe said he’s expecting about 3,000 people and that attendees can check out a Navy patrol boat and examine SWAT team equipment.
There may even be a police dog demonstration.
And, would-be criminals, don’t think of this as a good time to go on a burglary spree.
De Voe says the department has used grant funds to budget more on-duty cops so that there will be plenty of officers patrolling the city.
will be barbecuing free hot dogs, and there’ll be a bounce house for kids.
“I really just like to get out and talk to the people,” De Voe said. “I like to get to see the kid’s reaction and it’s always a positive reaction.”
Exhibit booths will showcase many community programs such as Volunteers in Policing, Community Emergency Response Team, Neighbor 4 Neighbor, Seal Beach Police Explorers, Seal Beach Junior Lifeguards, and the .
For more information about National Night Out or other community programs, contact Sergeant Steve Bowles at 562-799-4100, extension 1160, or email him at sbowles@sealbeachca.gov
