Neighborhoods throughout Oakdale are invited to join forces with police and thousands of communities nationwide on Tuesday, Aug. 1 for National Night Out.

National Night Out (NNO) is the first Tuesday in August when law enforcement and the community come together for the evening and build relationships to help with crime prevention. NNO is an opportunity for communities nationwide to heighten crime and drug awareness, promote police and community partnerships, and develop neighborhood camaraderie. National Night Out involves over 38.5 million people and more than 16,000 communities from all 50 states.

“National Night Out provides us a great opportunity to build upon existing relationships and strengthen partnerships between neighbors and our officers patrolling neighborhoods,” said Police Chief Scott Heller. “One of the biggest factors in reducing crime and increasing quality of life in communities is the strength of the community’s partnership with its police.”

Oakdale Police and Neighborhood Watch Groups have planned approximately a dozen block parties throughout the city, including two large venues in the Burchill Hill and Bridle Ridge neighborhoods. An NNO kick-off event is planned to begin at 5:30 p.m. at Burchill Park – 1400 East “S” Street.

Local government leaders and public safety personnel will attend the kick-off event and then head out to the other venues throughout the city from 6 p.m. through 8 p.m.

NNO venues will include free hamburgers, hot dogs, refreshments and other block party goodies thanks to the many event sponsors.

There is a planned car show and music at Burchill Park, a bounce house for children at Bridle Ridge, and a variety of other events hosted in additional neighborhoods throughout Oakdale including barbeques, potlucks, cookouts, ice cream socials, games and music. There will be visits from public safety personnel to all venues throughout the community to strengthen partnerships through conversations and to show off the community’s emergency services equipment and capabilities including fire trucks, police cars and motorcycles, police armored emergency rescue vehicle, K9 demonstrations, etc.

The Oakdale Police Department would like to thank and recognize the following 2017 NNO sponsors:

Corporate Sponsors: ADT, Associa, Dietz & Watson, King’s Hawaiian, Martin-Brower Company and Ring.

·         Executive Sponsor: Sunrise Rotary

·         Gold Sponsor: Oakdale Rotary

·         Silver Sponsor: Soroptimist International

·         Bronze Sponsors: Bordona’s Furniture, Farmers Insurance, Firenze’s Restaurant, Haidlen Ford, Steves Chevrolet, Togo’s Eatery and Oak Valley Community Bank.

·         Copper Sponsors: Café Bravo, Costless, Target, McDonald’s

For more information for a block party near you or how you may volunteer to assist with this year’s and next year’s event, please contact NNO Coordinator Janeen Yates at 209-847-2231.