San Mateo, California – On Tuesday evening, San Mateo’s crime-prevention strategy will move beyond patrol cars and police stations. It will unfold at recreation centers, beside neighborhood barbecues and across dozens of residential blocks.
The San Mateo Police Department plans to visit 32 registered block events while hosting a large public safety fair, turning National Night Out into a citywide effort to bring residents and first responders together.
The department will participate in the 43rd annual National Night Out on August 4, with activities scheduled from 5:30 to 9 p.m. The nationwide campaign, known as “America’s Night Out Against Crime,” is designed to increase crime-prevention awareness, support local anticrime programs and strengthen relationships between police and the neighborhoods they serve.
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Residents who are not attending a neighborhood gathering can visit the department’s free National Night Out Safety Fair at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Center, 725 Monte Diablo Ave. The event will run from 5:30 to 8 p.m.
Visitors will be able to meet police officers, firefighters, city employees and other public safety partners. McGruff the Crime Dog and police K9s will also attend. Displays will include SWAT trucks, fire engines and ambulances, along with demonstrations showing how the police department deploys drones.
The evening will also feature games led by San Mateo Parks and Recreation, the San Mateo Public Library’s bookmobile and treats provided by the San Mateo Police Activities League. Bohannon Companies is sponsoring raffle prizes.
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At the same time, police representatives will travel across the city to visit the 32 registered neighborhood events between 6 and 9 p.m. Officers will share safety information, promote available community resources and encourage residents to register security cameras through the San Mateo Connect program at www.sanmateoconnect.org.
The citywide effort will include members of the San Mateo City Council, city department leaders, Public Works crews, the San Mateo Consolidated Fire Department and the Police Activities League. National Night Out sponsors AT&T, ADT and Starbucks will also participate.
Resource tables will represent organizations including AMR San Mateo County, CERT, CORA, NAMI, the Peninsula Conflict Resolution Center, the San Mateo County Mobile Crisis Response Team and several city departments.
Police officials are also using the event to highlight San Mateo’s Neighborhood Watch Program. Residents can request more information by emailing [email protected].
