Police to Host 30th Annual National Night Out at Jefferson Park

The Pasadena Police Department will host its 30th Annual National Night Out on Tuesday, Aug. 4 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Jefferson Park at 1501 E. Villa Street.

The event is Pasadena’s local edition of a nationwide campaign that brings residents and police together to strengthen neighborhood ties, and this year — built around the theme of police-community partnerships — marks three decades of the city’s participation. 

It is set to feature games and activities, giveaways and community resources, according to a Police Department announcement.

National Night Out is held across the country on the first Tuesday of August each year. The campaign was established in 1984 by Matt Peskin and is run by the National Association of Town Watch, with the goal of strengthening police-community partnerships and neighborhood ties and fostering safer, more connected communities.

“NNO kind of represents the fabric of our country,” Peskin said in an interview on the campaign’s origins. He has described it as more than symbolic: “This is not ‘Kiss a Cop Day’ or something like that. It’s a program that really makes a difference. It’s a lot of fun to put together, it reaches deep into the neighborhood — and community-building, and it works.”

The Pasadena Police Department’s Community Relations Section rotates the kickoff among parks each year, with city partners such as the Public Library, Water and Power, the Pasadena Federal Credit Union, Waste Management, Public Health and the Citizen’s Service Center taking part. 

Residents seeking more information can contact Program Coordinator Ena Kessler at ekessler@cityofpasadena.net or (626) 744-4551. Those needing an accommodation can call (626) 744-7311 or email CSC@CityOfPasadena.net, where providing at least 72 hours’ notice helps ensure availability.

The Aug. 4 gathering at Jefferson Park is open to the community.