Law enforcement agencies invited residents across San Diego to turn on their porch lights and enjoy a safe summer evening with neighbors, police officers and deputies as part of the National Night Out crime-fighting initiative.
For San Diego police, Night Out events will begin at:
- 4:30 p.m. at Teralta and Colina parks;
- 5 p.m. at the South Bay Recreation Center and at the Kroc Center;
- 5:30 p.m. at Skyview Park, and
- 6 p.m. at the police department’s Northern Division.
San Diego police Chief Shelley Zimmerman plans to attend four of the six events. At the Teralta Park Night Out, longtime City Heights community leader Maria Cortez and the Teralta Park Action Team will be recognized.
Sheriff’s officials asked those who will not attend the events in person to leave their porch lights on as a “show of solidarity” with the 37 million people in more than 15,000 communities who mark the annual event on the first Tuesday in August. The day is meant to promote safer neighborhoods and foster stronger relations between communities and the officers who patrol them.
San Diego County sheriff’s deputies – in the day and evening – will host events from:
- 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Encinitas Target parking lot on El Camino Real;
- 3 to 6 p.m. at the sheriff’s Poway Station;
- 3 to 6 p.m. at Connors Park in San Marcos;
- 3 to 7 p.m. at the Target parking lot on Jamacha Road in Rancho San Diego;
- 4 to 7 p.m. at the sheriff’s Alpine Station;
- 5 to 7:30 p.m. at Robert Egger Park in Imperial Beach;
- 5 to 7 p.m. at San Elijo Hills Park in San Marcos;
- 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Main Street and South Indiana Avenue in Vista, and
- 5:30 to 8 p.m. at the Santee Trolley Square on Mission Gorge Road.
Activities will vary by location, but sheriff’s officials said deputies would be available to meet with the residents and attendees can learn about services provided by the agency and receive crime prevention tips. The events may include food and drinks, gun lock giveaways, child fingerprinting, station tours and vehicle and other displays, sheriff’s officials said.
Other local recognition of the event include:
- Escondido, where residents can attend an open house at the Escondido Police Department from 5 to 8 p.m. or visit information booths and vehicle displays at Grape Day Park.
- La Mesa, where neighborhood watch groups will organize events to promote crime prevention efforts, and the third annual Emergency Preparedness Fair will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Target parking lot at Grossmont Center.
- El Cajon, where police will feature a police dog demonstration, SWAT display and crime prevention booth at 100 Civic Center Way at 5 p.m.
- National City, where police will host a barbecue and swim session at the municipal pool on East 22nd Street at 5 p.m.
– City News Service
