FUN SERVED IN A BUN

When police officers arrive at a party, it’s oftentimes because the festivities have not gone quite as planned.

National Night Out in Vacaville on Tuesday evening went exactly as planned. Police units not only visited neighborhood block parties across the city as they traditionally do, but this year they also hosted a party of their own in Andrews Park.

And while a regular block party is great, this one was something special. Visitors were treated with a DJ and a foam cannon, which piled bubbles about six inches deep in which children could immerse themselves. And once the youngsters were finished playing, they were treated to free hot dogs and shaved ice.

Families had an opportunity to browse booths featuring the California Secretary of State’s Office, Vacaville Fire Department, California Highway Patrol, Vacaville Parks and Recreation, the Girl Scouts, Vacaville Police Activities League and many more.

National Night Out is an annual campaign to build trust and create positive relationships between law enforcement and the community. It is held on the first Tuesday in August each year, and 2023 marked the 40th anniversary of the event.

Amber McCabe, a community policing outreach specialist in Vacaville, said events such as National Night Out are the best part of her job because she can bring officers and the community together to have a good time and make connections. McCabe said she has a great relationship with the officers and administration within the department because she served as a patrol officer for five years.

The event is often the first time, McCabe said, that several of the adults and most of the children meet police. She added it is important for families to realize the officers serve the greater good of the community.

“I want people to know that we are here for them,” McCabe said.

The event also offers an opportunity for crime prevention efforts. National Night Out started as a way for neighbors to meet one another and create safer communities. The party in the park was a new idea this year, McCabe said, to help more members of the community celebrate the occasion.

“We wanted to give access to people who might not be able to organize a party,” said McCabe, who added the weather cooperated after 108-degree heat last year forced the event to be downsized.

McCabe stood back and watched as children played and their parents received a well-deserved break. “The heart of our community is our kids,” she said.

Margartia Agredano brought her two sons to the event and said it was great to have a police department that wants to make connections in the community. Her son, Thomas, had not yet played in the foam, but the 4-year-old was clearly excited for the chance to do so soon.

Agredano said she learned of the event on Instagram and was pleased to find a fun, free event for families.

Judith Franco, youth development manager for the Vacaville Police Activities League, said her organization helped to put the event together as one of its goals is to help kids get to know officers and learn leadership skills.

“An officer is more than just a badge,” Franco said. “They’re a person.”

Direct interactions with the police are important for the kids, Franco said, and some of the youngsters “are spending days at a time with an officer.”

Vacaville PAL is always accepting new kids who want to make a difference in their community and get to know the police officers better, Franco said.

“We’re really looking for kids that want to come out of their shells, learn some new skills and are open to it,” she said.

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