> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.smdp.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Celebrating community policing with National Night Out - URL: https://www.smdp.com/celebrating-community-policing-with-national-night-out/ - Published: 2008-08-07T15:00:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-24T20:34:31.000Z - Author: Melody Hanatani - Tags: Community, Santa Monica, #archive-import *National Night Out about fostering strong community relationships* PUBLIC SAFETY FACILITY If there was one area local law breakers avoided hitting on Tuesday evening, it was a small stretch of Olympic Drive. Nearly 1,000 people took to the street in celebration of the annual National Night Out Block Party, a Santa Monica Police Department-sponsored event recognizing the importance of strong community relations. The city was among 11,000 communities that participated in the nationwide festival, which marked its 25th year. The SMPD has hosted the party for more than 10 years. The event is aimed at promoting strong community-police relationships, an opportunity to recognize the law enforcement authorities who put their lives at risk and thank residents for their part in promoting public safety. While the national event focuses on “taking back the streets,” locally, where crime is the lowest it’s been since the 1950s, the theme was a bit different. “This is a way of showing the community what our assets are and what we have to protect the community,” Chief Tim Jackman said, motioning to the variety of booths showcasing the different elements of the police and fire departments. “We want to show how the different groups are connected.” One of the newer programs highlighted was the Neighborhood Resource Officers, a community policing plan which was unveiled earlier this year. “(NRO) is an outreach effort, just like National Night Out,” Sgt. Jaime Hernandez, who manages the program, said. “We are reaching out to the community, we are all in this together.” The party this year took on a carnival theme, which included a dunk tank, rock climbing wall and moonwalk. The event also featured a martial arts demonstration by the Police Activities League, and a folklorico dance group. In the end, the department estimates between 800 to 1,000 people showed up this year, consuming more than 1,000 hot dogs, 600 juice boxes and 50, 2-liter soda bottles. The event was a first for many people. Dolores Collier, whose grandson participates in PAL programs, came out to the event for the first time this year, bringing her neighbor, Isabel Gonzalez. The two Santa Monicans, whose family members are officers in other police departments, spent the evening catching up with old friends, enjoying the festive ambiance on a cool summer night. “Once a year for this is not enough,” Collier said as she kept a watchful eye on her grandson as he climbed a fire truck. They stopped to catch the giant purple octopus mascot from Pacific Park, Collier telling her toddler granddaughter to say hello to the towering sea creature. “This is great for the community,” Gonzalez.“It’s great for the neighbors.” The event was also prime campaigning ground for some of the candidates running for local elected office in November. Among those collecting signatures was Councilmember Bobby Shriver, who is running for re-election. The party served as a large-scale reunion, bringing old neighbors together, connecting new residents with the greater community. Peter Epstein, a member of the PAL board of directors, has attended the event for the past several years. He spent the majority of the evening visiting with friends. “To me, this is an event where I can see people whom I haven’t seen in a long time,” Epstein said. *Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on August 7, 2008.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/080708.pdf?ref=smdp.com)