Merced firefighters from Station 53 showed the mechanisms of their fire engine to curious attendees.
Leo Club members from El Capitan High School served free hot dogs, chips, water, and snacks to residents.
Sam the Merced PD K-9 poses with a friend before walking around Applegate Park.
Kiddieland was open for guests to enjoy free of charge.
National Night Out is typically held the first Tuesday of August and celebrates community interaction with law enforcement. It is a time and place where residents, local groups and public safety agencies can build relationships and trust.
The Merced Police Department held their 2022 National Night out on Tuesday night at Applegate Park. Local first responders, including: Merced Police Department officers, Merced City firefighters, EMTS, Bomb Squad members, and others were in attendance and had their vehicles open for viewing.
The evening was full of free food, drinks, raffles — and the gates to Kiddieland were open for residents to enjoy at no cost.
“National Night Out is having the community come out and get to know all their community services and providers,” said Rosa Alcaraz, community liaison at the Merced Police Department. “We’re here to get to know each other as the community itself, and get service information that can help them or someone they know, and also to have them recognize who to be on the lookout for. … If our community knows each other then they will work together and help one another. If they see any crime or anything happening, their willingness to work with us and work together as a team, because that is what community is, will increase.”
Alcaraz added, “It’s a time to have fun and get to know one another.”
The planning for the 2022 National Night Out was all orchestrated by Alcaraz as she just celebrated three months into her position at the Merced Police Department
“This was new but rewarding seeing how many community members came out. It seems like everyone is enjoying themselves and seeing everyone with their families. Vendors are willing to meet their community outside of their offices and even outside of their uniforms.”
Merced Food 4 Less, FoodMaxx, Save Mart, Costco, Target, Cardenas, and the Merced Lions Club were sponsors of the event and offered up free services, time, and supplies to make National Night Out a success.