Oscar Balbuena, 9, of Santa Ana jumps off a Santa Ana PD Rescue Truck on display at the National Night Out event at Jerome Park in Santa Ana on Tuesday, August 4, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Kids load up on free goodies given out by the Santa Ana Police Department at the National Night Out event at Jerome Park in Santa Ana on Tuesday, August 4, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Santa Ana Explorer Luis Serafin hands out free goodies to a young boy visiting the National Night Out at Jerome Park in Santa Ana on Tuesday, August 4, 2026. Free goodie bags were handed out to the first 100 kids at the event. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Santa Ana canine officer Zach Esquerra and his canine partner Baldur talk with visitors at the National Night Out event at Jerome Park in Santa Ana on Tuesday, August 4, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Stuffed animals that were being handed out by the Santa Ana PD at the National Night Out event at Jerome Park in Santa Ana on Tuesday, August 4, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Jenifer Urias, left, and her daughter Cataleya check out the National Night Out event at Jerome Park in Santa Ana on Tuesday, August 4, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
People attend the National Night Out event at Jerome Park in Santa Ana on Tuesday, August 4, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Making friends can be a crime-fighting tool.
On Tuesday, Aug. 4, several Orange County police departments participated in National Night Out, a campaign to invite residents out to meet each other and their local law enforcement. The idea being to strengthen those bonds to create an environment where crime struggles to thrive.
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Santa Ana held its event at Jerome Park; residents in the area who went enjoyed goodie bags, safety information and other fun.
Other departments also arranged SWAT and K-9 demonstrations, hosted barbecues and displayed their patrol cars and big vehicles.
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Some cities have started hosting their National Night Out events on other days, with more events planned later this week, check you local police department.
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