National Night Out keeps neighborhoods, law enforcement in touch

JANN HENDRY/Acorn Newspapers SAFE HANDS—Oak Park homeowner Jay Kapitz, left visits with Ventura County Sheriff's deputies during National Night Out last Saturday. The nationwide crime awareness event is held annually. Oak Park residents got to know each other and the public servants who protect them during National Night Out Against Crime, held locally on Sat., Aug. 2.

The annual crime awareness program seeks to strengthen the bond between law enforcement officials and the communities they serve in an effort to keep neighborhoods safe.

Seven Oak Park neighborhoods participated in this year's event, the largest number since the program began in the community in 2006. That year only Shadow Ridge, a 440-home condominium development between Doubletree and Hollytree roads, participated. In 2007 six neighborhoods signed up. Last Saturday evening 60 residents attended the Shadow Ridge get-together at Oak Canyon Park.

"We're very concerned about safety in our community. National Night Out is an opportunity to get to know not just our neighborhood but also law enforcement and fire protection," said Paul Pastor, president of the Shadow Ridge Homeowner Association.

Circulating among the seven Oak Park neighborhoods were members of Fire Station 36 on Deerhill Road, the Ventura County Sheriff's Department, a SWAT team, a canine unit, a mounted patrol officer and a bomb squad.

"In our neighborhood the bomb squad brought a robot that they use that the kids enjoyed seeing," said Mike Green, a member of the Oak Park Municipal Advisory Committee. "The fire department came by and let everyone sit in the truck. The SWAT team came by with a battering ram they use to open up doors."

Green distributed flyers to all residents on his block at Pinion Street, where about 40 people showed up.

"It isn't often that neighbors get out and talk to each other," Green said. "Neighborhoods seem to be safer when everyone knows each other and watches out for each other."

National Night Out helps police for several reasons, said Capt. Bill Flannigan of the Ventura County Sheriff's Department. The event gives law enforcement agencies a chance to show the public the resources available to them and allows officers to hear from residents directly.

Flannigan, who oversees law enforcement for Oak Park, spent time speaking with the residents.

"It certainly increases community awareness of what's actually going on in their neighborhoods. We also find out things we should be looking out for that we may not have heard of yet," Flannigan said.

Flannigan credited MAC Chair Jay Kapitz with building the Oak Park event.

"Each year it's gotten bigger and bigger," Flannigan said. "Jay and the MAC members make it a point to get as many people as possible to participate."