The Grass Valley Police Department, in partnership with Nevada County Citizens for Safe Parks and the Greater Grass Valley Chamber of Commerce, will join police departments around the country to participate in the 32nd annual National Night Out event.
“It’s all about bringing the community and neighbors, all folks, out to make the community safe, and it’s a proactive community measure,” Lt. Alex Gammelgard said. “We’ve done it many years in the past, but it’s been a while since we did a big event.”
The event will include a barbecue hosted by Grass Valley police officers, fire engine and police car exhibits, live bands from the youth group New Events and Opportunities, and McGruff the crime dog.
The Nevada County Citizens for Safe Parks, a local resident group, will also man a gold panning activity equipped with bubbles for children to play with.
Gammelgard said the biggest draw for the event will be its Colors in the Park running event, where kids of all ages are invited to wear a white T-shirt and run laps around the park while they are scattered with colors to make a fun and vibrant T-shirt.
“There’s going to be officers bringing their families, we’ll have some patrol guys swing by, and have quite a few officers here,” Sgt. Dan Kimbrough said. “I’ve got two small girls and I told them about the color run and they were all excited about it.”
The nationwide community event aims to heighten crime and drug prevention awareness, strengthen the relationship between police and local residents, generate support and participation with police initiatives, and send a message to criminals that the neighborhoods are getting organized.
From The Union article by Ivan Natividad