National Night Out in Merced takes on new significance

National Night Out in Merced took on extra significance this year in the wake of national news on violence carried out on and by police officers, said the event’s organizer.

Neighborhoods throughout the city were invited to join with thousands of communities nationwide Tuesday for the annual crime- and drug-prevention event, which is in its 33rd year. It was sponsored locally by the Merced Police Department with the help of nonprofits and businesses.

Eugene Drummond Jr., the community liaison for Merced police, said the city has not had some of the problems seen in other communities around the country because the department continues to evolve an an effort to “get better.”

“Our Police Department does a lot of things right, a lot of things different,” he said. “We’re trying to get out in front of it.”

Shootings of unarmed men and women by police officers, like those in St. Paul, Minn., and Miami, have been in the national news in recent months. At the same time, the killing of officers has made headlines, like those in Dallas and Baton Rouge, La.

“We understand the stuff going on in the other communities is concerning,” he said. “That’s not happening here.”

Drummond noted that Merced police go through diversity and mental health training, along with the typical firearms training and other schooling. While many police departments are wrestling with whether to purchase body cameras for officers, he said, Merced has had body cameras for more than three years and in-car cameras for more than four.

The goals of National Night Out include building neighborhood spirit and unity in support of anti-crime programs, heightening awareness of crime and drug prevention, and strengthening police and community partnerships, according to the program’s founders.

On Tuesday, children ran around, posed for pictures and dined on hot dogs in Applegate Park. Courtney Benson, 26, of Merced stood near the police bomb squad truck while her niece and nephew, 8-year-old Ava and 4-year-old Jasper Saechang, took a tour inside.

Benson said she heard about National Night Out on Facebook. “It’s pretty cool,” she said.

The bomb squad truck tour guide, Detective Joseph Perez, said it’s important for citizens to get a look at all of the resources the department has, and children are always fans of the bomb disposal robot.

Community events also serve another purpose.

“It’s good for the community to see us like regular people,” he said.

More than 38 million people in more than 16,000 communities were expected to take part in the event in each of the 50 states, as well as U.S. territories and military bases around the world. Cities in Canada also observe National Night Out.

Other National Night Out activities took place in communities throughout Merced County and the rest of the Valley.

This story was originally published August 3, 2016 at 2:44 PM with the headline "National Night Out in Merced takes on new significance."