Sometimes bigger isn’t always better, especially for the small City of San Fernando. The City of Los Angeles surrounds the 2.37-square-mile hamlet of just over 24,000 residents in northeast San Fernando Valley. It operates as an independent city with its own city council, mayor, public works, parks, police department, and other vital city services.
On Tuesday, it was the police department that had a chance to thank the citizens they are sworn to protect and get to know the community members a little better during National Night Out. The annual event focuses on crime and drug prevention awareness, strengthens neighborhood police-community partnerships, and conveys to criminals that neighborhoods are fighting back.
Event coordinator San Fernando Police Detective Sergeant C.J. Chiasson talked about the importance of getting to know the community better.
“We’re very fortunate in the city of San Fernando because our community really does want their own police department. Their expectations are very high of their police department, so overall we have a great working relationship with the community. Our community outreach component of what we do as a police department is critically important.”
Chiasson added, “I think you need to humanize the badge. People need to see the police in a non-enforcement way, see us as people who care about their community, want to educate the community overall, and have a better relationship with them.”
The three-hour event in a parking lot adjacent to the police department featured dignitaries including state Assemblymember Luz Rivas, San Fernando Mayor Celeste Rodriguez, Vice Mayor Mary Mendoza and city councilmembers.
Attendees enjoyed free food and drinks, information booths, activities for children, and giveaways for those who attended. People took photos with officers in front of the department’s restored 1956 Chevy police car and with K-9 Officer Nicholas Murillo and his dog Renz. Live music on stage from the band…
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