HomeWorld NewsOn National Night Out, Mission Hills neighbors enjoy music, meet LAPD officers – LA Daily News
On National Night Out, Mission Hills neighbors enjoy music, meet LAPD officers – LA Daily News
August 2, 2023
It’s not too late to turn on your front porch light, or your foyer light, to celebrate National Night Out, and plenty of people are doing just that in the San Fernando Valley and throughout Los Angeles.
On Tuesday, Aug. 1, Mission Hills residents and dozens of other communities across the Southland worked with law enforcement to literally take back their streets in a celebration of community. The LAPD Mission Community Police Station hosted an upbeat event in partnership with the Mission Hills Neighborhood Council that touted free food, raffle tickets, and music by popular Los Angeles DJ Bobby Arias.
Allison Ocampos, 7-years old, enjoys a cold treat during LAPD Mission Community Police Station’s National Night Out at Brand Park in Mission Hills, Tuesday, Aug 1, 2023. The program helps promote police community relationships and promotes crime and drug prevention awareness. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Julian Villatorro, 7-years old, sits on a police motorcycle during LAPD Mission Community Police Station’s National Night Out at Brand Park in Mission Hills, Tuesday, Aug 1, 2023. The program helps promote police community relationships and promotes crime and drug prevention awareness. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Los Angeles Police Department officer Nick Escamilla turns the emergency lights on his motorcycle on as Natalie Villatorro, 4-years old, looks on during LAPD Mission Community Police Station’s National Night Out at Brand Park in Mission Hills, Tuesday, Aug 1, 2023. The program helps promote police community relationships and promotes crime and drug prevention awareness. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
People meet Los Angeles Police Department Mounted Unit officers during LAPD Mission Community Police Station’s National Night Out at Brand Park in Mission Hills, Tuesday, Aug 1, 2023. The program helps promote police community relationships and promotes crime and drug prevention awareness. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
People get refreshments during LAPD Mission Community Police Station’s National Night Out at Brand Park in Mission Hills, Tuesday, Aug 1, 2023. The program helps promote police community relationships and promotes crime and drug prevention awareness. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Los Angeles Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez speaks during LAPD Mission Community Police Station’s National Night Out at Brand Park in Mission Hills, Tuesday, Aug 1, 2023. The program helps promote police community relationships and promotes crime and drug prevention awareness. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Police officers mingle with citizens during LAPD Mission Community Police Station’s National Night Out at Brand Park in Mission Hills, Tuesday, Aug 1, 2023. The program helps promote police community relationships and promotes crime and drug prevention awareness. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
People pet Los Angeles Police Department horses during LAPD Mission Community Police Station’s National Night Out at Brand Park in Mission Hills, Tuesday, Aug 1, 2023. The program helps promote police community relationships and promotes crime and drug prevention awareness. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
In Philadelphia in 1984, the first Tuesday in August was transformed into the National Night Out by a young guy named Matt Peskin. He wanted to find a way for neighbors to step outside together and literally take back their streets. His vision drew an incredible 2.5 million participants in roughly 400 communities in 23 of the 50 states.
Nearly 40 years later, National Night Out is a vast and upbeat phenomenon across the land. The guesstimate is that 38 million people participate, bringing police officers, emergency personnel and the public together to talk about neighborhood crime, crime prevention tips and how to create neighborhood watch groups.
One mission is asked of everyone: Remember to turn on your front porch light as a symbol of public awareness for the annual event.
