National Night Out Returns

A party on Tuesday, Aug. 7 is guaranteed to have the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office deploying everything from SWAT vehicles to police dogs. But they will not be there to shut things down—they are hosting it as part of the nationwide National Night Out program.

Over five separate county locations, including one at Pinto Lake County Park on Green Valley Road, the Sheriff’s Office hosts this free community event which includes children’s activities, free food, and demonstrations from the Sheriff’s Office and other emergency service providers. A fun and free event for the public, National Night Out’s goal is to strengthen ties between local law enforcement and the community while promoting safety and anticrime programs.

“It’s good to know the neighborhood and not only us get to know the neighborhood but the neighborhood to get to know each other,” said Sheriff’s Deputy April Skalland. “This gives the opportunity for everyone to come together, stand against crime, get to know one another.”

According to Skalland, the event provides the Sheriff’s Office with a great opportunity to make highlight to the public what they can do for people.

“It gets the community to know a little bit more what goes on at the service centers and what kind of resources we have to help them or deliver to them. I think a lot of people aren’t completely aware what they can do there," said Skalland.

The Pinto Lake party runs from 4-8 p.m. For more information on National Night Out, or to find other Santa Cruz County locations and times, check out the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s website at www.scsheriff.com, or the National Association of Townwatch’s website at www.nationaltownwatch.org/nno.