A policeman and child at one of the block parties across the United States. (Photo courtesy of National Association of Town Watch)

National Night Out – a night promoting police-community partnerships – is this Tuesday, and various agencies across San Diego are participating to show support for law enforcement agencies. 

San Diego has no shortage of events, nor is it in need of participating agencies. The Chula Vista Police Department, La Mesa Police Department, San Diego Police Department, San Diego County Sheriff’s Office and Oceanside Police Department are just some of the agencies participating in National Night Out.

National Night Out happens each year on the first Tuesday of August. It was first introduced in 1984 by the National Association of Town Watch, an organization uniting community watch programs to keep them informed and motivated to better serve their neighborhoods.

The National Association of Town Watch believes “the best way to build a safe community is to know your neighbors and your surroundings,” and that’s what National Night Out seeks to accomplish, orchestrating community-police relationships.

The San Diego Police Department is hosting several events throughout Tuesday, the first starting at 4 p.m. and the latest running until 8 p.m. The events are all different. Some include walks alongside patrol cars, others offer free food and merchandise, and some are just fun movie nights. 

The South Division is hosting a community walk and fair with games, refreshments, a school supplies giveaway, face painting and more at the Robert Egger Sr. South Bay Recreation Center. 

The walk begins at 4:15 p.m. with SDPD Chief Scott Wahl and will be followed by the Welcoming Remarks Ceremony at 5:10 p.m. Speakers include San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria, County Supervisor Paloma Aguirre, City Councilmember Vivian Moreno and more. 

The Central, Southeastern, Mid-City, Eastern, and Northeastern Divisions of SDPD are all participating in National Night Out too, with events across the city. 

The Chula Vista Police Department is hosting its National Night Out event at its headquarters, located at Fourth Avenue in Chula Vista, from 4 to 8 p.m. The event is free and includes tours of the department and K9 and Jaws of Life demonstrations. Local businesses will be joining the event, including the local Home Depot hosting the Children’s Workshop, Dick’s Sporting Goods with the Kids’ Zone and Tacos El Gordo providing free food while supplies last. 

The La Mesa Police Department is taking a different approach and bringing the party to the neighborhoods. Event registration ended on July 28, but residents of La Mesa were able to register their events — whether a frontyard potluck or a whole block party — and schedule a visit from the La Mesa Police Department between 6 and 8 p.m. on Tuesday.

The San Diego Sheriff’s Office is also hosting a slew of events across its various offices. Between 4:30 and 8 p.m. on Tuesday, there are events across nine different stations that will include raffles, food, activities and even musical performances. Community members in attendance will have the chance to meet K9 teams and Bomb and Arson units, as well as a behind-the-scenes look at tools used on the job.

The Sheriff’s Office hosted several events over the weekend and will be hosting several more the following weekend in honor of National Night Out.

The Oceanside Police Department is also joining in on the night of community-police bonding. From 4 to 8 p.m. at the Oceanside Police Department, there will be food, games, raffles and music. In line with the other police departments, Oceanside is offering tours and K9 demonstrations. The first 400 attendees will also receive free food vouchers.

More than 300 cities throughout California are participating in the event, according to the National Association of Town Watch.