‘Night Out’ an evening to remember

Marisa O’Neil

The Cost Mesa Police Department had a busier-than-usual station

Tuesday, but it wasn’t because of a sudden spike in crime or in new

officer recruits. They opened their station to the neighborhood, and

residents came for the department’s sixth annual National Night Out

-- the first hosted at the station.

The annual public safety event encourages people nationwide to

help prevent crime by locking their doors, leaving an outside light

on and getting out to meet other community members. And after five

years of bringing officers and exhibits to different areas of the

city for the National Night Out, the Costa Mesa Police Department

opened its own doors -- as well as the doors to some patrol cars and

even a helicopter -- to local residents.

“We wanted to show off the department,” Chief John Hensley said.

“We have tours [through the department]; we have our helicopter here;

we wanted to show a little of everything we have to offer.”

This was the 21st year for the event, created by the

Pennsylvania-based National Assn. of Town Watch, while it was the

sixth year Costa Mesa Police have participated in National Night Out.

Nationwide, more than 34 million people in 10,000 communities were

expected to take part, said Costa Mesa Police Crime Prevention

Specialist Janet Curtis. Hosting community members and inviting them

to meet officers in a social setting helps make for good neighbors,

she said.

“It’s so important as a community and as a police department to

show the residents we appreciate their efforts to keep Costa Mesa a

great place to work and live,” Curtis said.

Free food, martial arts demonstrations, exhibits from community

groups, raffle prizes and free candy and stickers were offered to the

crowds who gathered at the courtyard outside the department around 6

p.m. for the two-hour Costa Mesa event.

Besides seeing the K-9, SWAT and other exhibits, those who

attended caught a glimpse of the department’s newest helicopter on

its landing pad. Ryan Chabin, 9, and Daniel Delgado , 10, stood on

the chopper’s skids, peering at the instruments inside and grilling

pilot Bob Rivers with questions.

“Does it have weapons on it?” Daniel wondered.

No, Rivers advised them, but it does have heat sensors to find the

bad guys at night.

“If this was remote-controlled, I’d crash it in about five

seconds,” Ryan said.

Newport Beach Police had two events, one at Mariners Park and a

second at Grant Howald Park. Community members came for free food,

face painting, games, crime-prevention information and more police

displays.

At Mariners Park, 2-year-old Taylor Eleinko and his sister,

5-year-old Ally, sat atop Officer Robert Watts’ department-issued BMW

motorcycle. When McGruff the Crime Dog stopped by to wave at them,

Taylor sat, transfixed with excitement.

“The kids love the police,” said their mother, Nancy Eleinko.

At the SWAT display, 10-year-old Nicolas Jaber talked to Officer

Matthew Graham about his job and took a look at some officer flak

jackets.

“A lot of people like to know more about the department,” Graham

said. “And the kids like to see all the tools.”

* MARISA O’NEIL covers public safety and courts. She may be

reached at (949) 574-4268 or by e-mail at marisa.oneil@latimes.com.