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By Jorge Casuso

August 6 – Police served the community in a different way Tuesday, with officers serving up pizzas and hot dogs and offering fun and games to the several thousand Santa Monicans who turned out for “National Night Out.”

The event outside the Public Safety Facility was one of 11,000 celebrations held in communities across the nation to promote community safety.

Crowds gather around McGruff the Crime Dog (Photos by Frank Gruber)

In Santa Monica, it was a time to celebrate the lowest crime rate the beachside City has seen since the mid 1950s, thanks to a close partnership being forged between residents, businesses and police, said Police Chief Tim Jackman. (“Serious Crime Drops to Record Lows,” August 6, 2008)

“In many cities the residents are still trying to take back their neighborhoods,” Jackman said. “Not in Santa Monica…tonight we are celebrating how safe our community already is.

“That’s not to say we don’t have crime, but because of the great relationships between the community and the police, we are able to prevent and solve crime more effectively than in other places.”

The event was a time for police and firefighters to treat the community, and especially kids, to the cool props many had only seen on TV.

To the strains of live bands, kids clamored aboard a fire truck, sat on a police motorcycle, viewed a vintage 1964 patrol car and petted police horses and k-9s.

Officers with horses

They also had a chance to rappel off a makehift rock cliff, play carnival games, meet McGruff the Crime Dog and Smokey Bear and take in helpful tips on public safety.

“We knew he likes fire trucks and motorcycles,” said Jeff Napier, as he snapped a shot of his young son with a police helmet sitting on a motorcycle.

It wasn’t just fun and games that drew the large crowds the the cordoned-off street. Some came to thank officers for years of great service.

“They’ve always been spendid,” said Bill Hughes, who has lived in Santa Monica for 25 years. “When I’ve come here for any help, they’ve always been out there to tell me what to do and where to go.

“This is great,” Hughes said. “This is the kind of thing that brings a community together.”

1964 squad car

Former Mayor Michael Feinstein, one of more tha half a dozen current and former council memebrs who showed up, learned first hand how it takes a village to help fight crime.

After having two bicycles stolen from his home because he left them unlocked, Feinstein made sure he secured his bicycle at a City Hall rack before headed to the celebration.

“People will go into any open space, anydriveway at night when it’s quiet and people are asleep,” Feinstein said, pulling out a new lock. “You can’t be careless.”