Anaheim Police Department Planning ‘Night Out’ Events

To help create local interest in a nationwide anti-crime and anti-drug effort, the Anaheim Police Department will have a kickoff celebration Saturday for “America’s Night Out Against Crime.”

Sponsored by the National Assn. of Town Watch, the 12th annual “Night Out” event will be observed Tuesday by an estimated 27 million people in the United States, Canada and U.S. territories.

In Anaheim, members of about 230 Neighborhood Watch groups and other residents will be asked to leave their outdoor lights on from 7 to 10 p.m. Tuesday and visit with neighbors in their front yards.

“It will show what Neighborhood Watch is all about--getting to know your neighbors,” said Linda McGoldrick, a police community services representative. “And this will be a way of saying to the criminal element, ‘We don’t want you in our neighborhood.’ ”

At the kickoff celebration, scheduled for 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday in Juarez Park, there will be demonstrations by the Police Department’s helicopter, SWAT team and K-9 units.

There also will be autograph sessions by members of the Mighty Ducks ice hockey team and the Bullfrogs roller hockey team, police displays, a Fire Department truck, and information about personal safety, drug abuse, theft prevention and neighborhood beautification.

For children, the Police Department will present sack races, balloon tosses and other games with prizes.

Juarez Park is at 841 S. Sunkist St. Information: Police Community Services Detail at (714) 254-1896.