National Night Out connects Burbank residents to police

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Robert Vincent, of Burbank, and Lisa Freeman, of Burbank, pose in a Civic Pride Committee frame with Burbank Mayor Jess Talamantes at the City of Burbank’s National Night Out along the Chandler Bikeway on Tuesday, August 2, 2016. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

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Grace Mitchell, 11, of Sun Valley, drives over a hump while taking a safe-rider bicycle test at the City of Burbank’s National Night Out along the Chandler Bikeway on Tuesday, August 2, 2016. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

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Animal control officer John McCullough, with the Burbank Animal Shelter, pets greyhound Shilo at the City of Burbank’s National Night Out along the Chandler Bikeway on Tuesday, August 2, 2016. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

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Katelynn Meline, 9, of Burbank, has her face being painted by Burbank Police Cadet Kelly Bravo-Cuevar at the City of Burbank’s National Night Out along the Chandler Bikeway on Tuesday, August 2, 2016. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

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The street is filled with people at the City of Burbank’s National Night Out along the Chandler Bikeway on Tuesday, August 2, 2016. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

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Roman Samarge, 5, of Burbank, has his arms loaded with balloons, a hard hat, and clapper toys that he picked up from community vendors at the City of Burbank’s National Night Out along the Chandler Bikeway on Tuesday, August 2, 2016. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

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Nicholas, 4, and Avery Kendall, 8, pose for a photo with Burbank officer Todd Burke being taken by David Kendall at the City of Burbank’s National Night Out along the Chandler Bikeway on Tuesday, August 2, 2016. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

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Will Rogers’ dog Tristan, gives a cautious turn of the head while Janet Harvey’s grehounds, Georgia, Shilo, and Tara put their heads together in a formidable formation of unity at the City of Burbank’s National Night Out along the Chandler Bikeway on Tuesday, August 2, 2016. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

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Burbank Councilwoman Emily Gabel-Luddy hugs longtime veteran photographer Ross Benson at the City of Burbank’s National Night Out along the Chandler Bikeway on Tuesday, August 2, 2016. Benson recently returned to work after a two-week stay in the hospital. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

By Elizabeth Toy

Aug. 4, 2016 10:51 AM PT

About 1,500 residents attended this year’s National Night Out held Tuesday along the Chandler Bikeway, where safety tips, local police and camaraderie amongst neighbors were celebrated in order to improve safety in the community.

“When you park your car, roll your windows up, put your valuables in the trunk and lock your vehicle. If you see something, say something,” Burbank Police Chief Scott LaChasse said to the crowd.

Held every year on the first Tuesday of August, National Night Out is an annual event which takes place in cities across the country to unify communities and their local police to prevent and solve crimes.

The program encourages people to take action, keep an eye out for any suspicious activities and exercise their power to control what happens in their neighborhoods.

“This is a national event to garner support in the community as we partnership with them in fighting crime. It’s based on the Neighborhood Watch program, working together to make a difference,” said Burbank Police Community Resource Officer Karel Castro , who, along with fellow resource officer Angela Burrows, coordinated the event.

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FOR THE RECORD

August 4, 11:07 a.m.: A previous version of this story misspelled the name of a Burbank resource officer. Her name is Angela Burrows, not Angela Burroughs.

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In light of recent violent events between police and civilians, Burrows admitted, “There are some people who are kind of more standoffish with us, but then there are others who come up to us and thank us for our service, and that’s always so nice to have someone come up and tell us we’re doing a great job and that they support us.”

Councilman Bob Frutos, a former Los Angeles Police Department officer, said Burbank is fortunate to have its police officers.

“Their outreach with the community is imperative for our success in our city. What they’re doing is establishing those relationships with the community’s first form of government to let them know that we’re there for them,” Frutos said.

National Night Out also aims to educate residents on how to be more observant and aware of crime in their own neighborhoods.

“You see people walking down the street buried in their phone, not aware of the surroundings and they’re walking victims,” said Dan Dodd, a Burbank police reserve officer. “They’ll see something unusual in their neighborhood and their instinct tells them, ‘That doesn’t look right. That person’s out of place. That car’s out of place.’ But they don’t take action. They don’t actually pick up the phone and call the police. In an agency like Burbank, they will come out immediately.”

Burbank Bike Angels created a bicycle safety course using sidewalk chalk to help young riders learn the basics of bike safely.

“It helps them learn the basics, to look both ways, how to stop at stop signs, wear helmets and check that a bike is ride-worthy before they get on,” said Henry Diel, a volunteer with Burbank Bike Angels and local resident since 1963.

Raquelle Masoudi, 16, a volunteer with the Burbank Volunteer Program, reviewed bike rules and safety with the young riders.

“We show them a bike safety quiz, and we ask them safety questions, like if it’s safe to wear headphones (while riding). We think it’s important to teach them these things now, because when they older, they’ll remember. It’s important they learn from a young age.” Masoudi said.

Residents had the opportunity to strike up conversations with local police officers, which Jireh Gerry, a 16-year-old volunteer with the Burbank Volunteer Program, said is important.

“Events like this are really great because people see police officers at other (events) happening now as dangerous,” Gerry said. “We are so unaware of so many things that police and firemen do for us every single day. So, it’s a great opportunity to thank them and just let them know we appreciate what they’re doing and that we do understand that it’s a dangerous job and sometimes it’s very stressful.”

Toy is a contributor to Times Community News.