National Night Out comes to Culver City

By Dennis J. Freeman

The city of Culver City will be celebrating National Night Out on Tuesday, Aug. 6. The annual event that is recognized all over the country highlights community policing and interaction between law enforcement with the communities and neighborhoods they serve in.

"We need our residents and citizens," said Culver City police officer Marissa Yabko. "It (National Night Out) is to create awareness of community policing."

The Culver City National Night Out event will take place from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Park, 4117 Overland Ave. Sponsors for the event include Target, Costco, Cedars Sinai, and the Culver City Rotary. Live music and food will be on hand as well for residents.

For dining purposes, Santa Maria Barbeque Catering will provide the main dish for attendees. The big draw, of course, will be the K9 demonstration, which tends to peep everyone's curiosity. Even the adults find themselves intrigued.

"They all want to pet it," Officer Yabko said. "You get caught up in the dog."

The main reason for National Night Out is to help break down any type of barriers that might be invisibly drawn between law enforcement and the citizens they are sworn to protect. It is a festive activity where residents can mingle and talk with members of their local police or law enforcement personnel freely without restriction.

"It's to promote a safer community," said Officer Yabko