Porterville Police to hold National Night Out Tuesday

For one night a year communities across the nation take a night to join with their law enforcement to promote police-community partnerships and neighborhood partnerships to make their areas better places to live.

The Porterville Police Department will again join with other communities across the nation to host National Night Out to continue to bolster its relationship with the community. National Night Out will be held from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, August 6 at Zalud Park. About 500 people are expected to attend the event.

“It’s a night we always look forward to,” said Steve Walker, Porterville Police community service officer for crime prevention and chaplain. “Being out there with the community giving them one crime free night.”

But Walker said the night is also about building a foundation for reducing crime on a permament basis and noted those who can’t attend Tuesday can still have their own National Night Out, so to speak

“We are serious about preventing crime,” he said. “If you aren’t able to attend, do something with your own neighbors.”

Along with Porterville Police, other agencies expected to attend are the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office, California Highway Patrol and Porterville Fire Department. The family-oriented event will allow adults and kids to interact

with all those first responders.

Porterville Police will have a patrol car and its SWAT car people can check out and the fire department is expected to have a fire truck at the event as well. Porterville Police’s K-9 unit will also be on hand to do demonstrations.

There will be barbecued hot dogs and music. Among the games will be tug-ofwar involving police officers and kids and a donut eating contest in which contestants can’t use their hands but eat the donuts hanging on a string. There will also be a three-point shooting contest.

Many community organizations and agencies will be at the event as well.