Sheriff invites public to try safety on for size in La Cañada
To increase public safety by better acquainting the public with local law enforcement agencies and other community resources, the Crescenta Valley Sheriff’s Station hosts the 34th annual National Night Out Tuesday evening at La Cañada’s Ross Dress for Less.
The free event, which takes place in the parking lot from 5 to 8 p.m., is open to the public and includes free barbecued hot dogs and chips as well as electronic fingerprinting for kids, information on human trafficking and a classic car show from the Early Rodders Classic Car Club.
Participants can meet with representatives from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s and Fire departments and members of the Montrose Search and Rescue Team while learning about other local agencies, like the Foothill Municipal Water District and Community Emergency Response Teams, operated through FEMA.
Demonstrations from the Crescenta Valley High School Robotics Team and free root beer floats provided by First Baptist Church at La Crescenta will punctuate the evening, and participants can bring up to eight boxes of documents to be shredded for free, courtesy of Shred Source.
The idea is to heighten crime and drug prevention awareness by strengthening community spirit and the ties between citizens and local law enforcement, said Sheriff’s Deputy Eric Matejka, who plans to man a booth educating people about drugs and drug paraphernalia.
“It’s all about community awareness and what we can do to fight crime,” Matejka said of the event. “When people come out and they get to talk to deputies and the fire department … we become more approachable.”
Having access to and conversations with public safety officers makes it easier for residents to respond in the event of a crime or emergency, Matejka added.
Firefighters from Los Angeles County Fire Department’s stations 19 and 82 in La Cañada, along with La Crescenta’s Station 63 plan to join in the fun, according to Assistant Fire Chief Gregory Hisel.
“Our departments respond each and every day together in our common mission to keep our community safe,” Hisel said of the partnership between the fire and sheriff’s departments.
“National Night Out is yet another example of our partners at LASD, under the leadership of Captain Bill Song, helping to educate the community by bringing awareness about how we can all battle crime and creating a safe place for our families to live and thrive,” he added.
Matejka encouraged residents to come out and learn more about how to stay safe while taking part in a fun, informative event.
“It’s not just for us, it’s for the community,” he added. “It’s kind of like a community-bonding thing.”
National Night Out takes place Tuesday, from 5 to 8 p.m., in the parking lot of Ross Dress for Less, 2111 Foothill Blvd. in La Cañada. For more information, call the Crescenta Valley Sheriff’s Station at (818) 248-3464.
