Families in the area celebrated National Night Out in Silva Park, joining with Riverbank first responders for an evening of fun on Tuesday, Aug. 6.
At the park, families, friends and neighbors joined together in an effort to help build a police-community partnership, intended to help make Riverbank a safer, better place to live.
It was the 40th Annual National Night Out, which is observed across the country, and a number of years ago, Riverbank Police Services Chief Ed Ridenour got the idea to celebrate it in one, large place, settling on Silva Park in Crossroads.
The event grew out of Neighborhood Watch celebrations on the same day, but originally, parades of emergency equipment would go from neighborhood to neighborhood, ultimately having less time to talk with people before it was time to pack up and go to the next stop on their list.
Chief Ridenour realized there could be more of the Sheriff’s Department specialized units if it was held in just one place and everyone came there. His personnel could have much more detailed conversations with the public who came, without having to run off to another stop.
The sheriff’s emergency units included a SWAT vehicle, a River Patrol Boat, the Bomb Squad, a K9 unit, and the Tactical Culinary Crew, who gave away free food. Other food given away included frozen yogurt samples from Menchie’s, popcorn from Galaxy Theatres, and flavored crushed ice provided by Central Valley Community Resources.
Free water-filled squirt guns were given away by members of the Shelter Cove Church. And Sheriff’s Deputies taught youngsters how to accurately fire a pellet gun at a series of targets. Members of the Sheriff’s Explorer Post also oversaw use of the Sheriff’s Bounce House.
Other emergency units participating included Engine 26 from Stanislaus Consolidated Fire Protection District, a local ambulance, and Police patrol vehicles. There was even an officer demonstrating how to control a drone in the air.
