National Night Out aims to build bridges between police and residents

If you see Richmond police officers dancing in the streets on Tuesday evening, don’t be alarmed. You’re just witnessing the annual citywide National Night Out, an opportunity for law enforcement officials and residents to socialize.

Richmond will be one of 362 California cities and 17,000 communities nationwide hosting a 40th year of National Night Out events.

Richmond’s festivities kick off at 4:30 p.m. at Southside Park in the Santa Fe neighborhood and end with a gathering at Parchester Village Community Center from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Attendees are encouraged to visit other neighborhood gatherings around town — at least 20 are planned.

At the parties police officers as well as firefighters and crime prevention advocates will join local residents for an evening of food, fun and collaboration. At the Santa Fe neighborhood kickoff event there will be donated food from local markets, face painting for children, a trackless train ride and, yes, line dancing.

More than just a ‘smile and wave’

The idea behind National Night Out is to help people get to know each other, build community rapport and encourage neighbors to help others.

 “When you live in a neighborhood, you have a tendency to just smile and wave at each other,” said Linda Jackson Whitmore, the community outreach coordinator for the Santa Fe Neighborhood Council. “This event motivates people to get more involved in their community.”

Richmond Police Spokesperson Lt. Donald Patchin said the annual event provides an opportunity for neighborhoods to get acquainted with their local patrol officers and other law enforcement personnel.

“It helps build bridges between the police department and community neighborhoods,” Patchin told Richmondside. “We’re only as strong as our communities.”

Patchin said making better connections makes it more likely that residents will call police for assistance or to report suspicious circumstances or crimes.

 He said this is particularly important in a community like Richmond with a history of challenges between police and community members — challenges that have made some people apprehensive or distrustful of police.

“It’s all about personal connections,” Patchin said.

 Whitmore, who has lived in Richmond since 1990, agrees.

“The event helps make sure police aren’t strangers to the community,” she said. “It can help make that blue uniform disappear.”