— Photos by Jim Collins
The city celebrated the 30th Annual National Night Out on Tuesday
Dubbed as “America’s Night Out Against Crime,” thousands of people in communities from all 50 states participated in the crime and drug prevention event.
About 700 people were at the main event in Bonita Canyon Sports Park, according to police, and another 200 attended the Spyglass Hill neighborhood event.
The NNO event in Newport Beach was a big success, said Newport Beach Police Department spokeswoman, Jennifer Manzella.
“We had a wonderful event at Bonita Canyon Sports Park, where members of the community came together with the Police Department, Fire Department, C.E.R.T. Volunteers, Police Explorers, and Volunteers in Policing,” Manzella explained in an email.
Free food, games, prizes, face-painting, balloon animals, demonstrations, and displays were all on hand, she added.
The event is intended to do many things in support of local crime prevention.
“National Night Out is designed to: (1) Heighten crime and drug prevention awareness; (2) generate support for, and participation in, local anti-crime programs; (3) strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships; and, (4) send a message to criminals letting them know neighborhoods are organized and ‘fighting back,’” a police statement released before the event reads.
It’s important to NBPD to foster relationships with the community, Manzella said.
“It was wonderful to see residents talking with members of their S.W.A.T. Team, or their Police Volunteers, or their Animal Control Officers… that’s an opportunity that most people don’t get to enjoy on a regular basis,” she continued. “We want the community to know about all of the resources that are available to them, and to encourage open lines of communication between our Department and the residents and visitors to Newport Beach.”
The event was co-sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch, U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance, and the Newport Beach Police Department. Retailer Target was a national corporate sponsor.
