Night Out emphasizes citizen policing

In a break from years past, Glendale fire and police officials fanned out across the city for separate neighborhood events as part of a nationwide showing of community over crime.

The citywide National Night Out events, from Verdugo Hills Hospital to Adams Hill, unfolded against the backdrop of brush fire that as of 6:30 p.m. had consumed more than 40 acres near Glenoaks Canyon, sapping resources from at least four area fire departments with water-dropping helicopters buzzing back and forth from refills at Silver Lake in Los Angeles.

The events, meant to stoke community interest in Neighborhood Watch programs and give residents an opportunity to network, also came less than a week after news that the Police Department had issued termination notices to three sworn officers in order to cope with recent budget cuts if finances don’t improve before September.

Even with a new staffing model from interim Police Chief Ron De Pompa that would reorient patrol officers more to assigned geographic districts, organizers said growing the ranks of watchful residents would help backfill any impacts to service.

“This is perfect to establish communication with everybody . . . .especially with the cutbacks to the police,” said Bernie Poulin, a member of the Adams Hill Homeowners Assn. who was the lead organizer for the event at Adams Square Mini Park.

But the main point for National Night Out events was to get residents to take a more proactive approach to policing their own communities, especially as police departments undergo changes that may make them more reactive, Officer Patrick Hamblin said.

“They’re the eyes and ears for us on the street,” he said as he watched the Adams Square event come to life Monday evening. “They partner with us.”

While acknowledging the decision in June to make funding cuts to the Police Department were “very, very hard,” Councilwoman Laura Friedman said she was confident that the new staffing model would cover funding cuts to the community policing programs because their neighborhood approach “was such a success that we wanted to make that a model for the structure of the department.”

Firefighters had been scheduled to attend the events, but it was unclear how many were able to actually make it given the brush fire. Even then, Glendale Fire Capt. Vince Rifino said earlier in the day that the department was still grappling with the injuries suffered by two fellow firefighters while battling a late-night home fire Monday.

One was treated and released for smoke inhalation, but the other remained in serious condition for third-degree burns over 20% of his body.

“It’s sort of like a mixed emotion because now we are trying to support the [Police Department] function on one side and on the other side we are on the tail of this tragic event that happened yesterday evening,” Rifino said.

— Veronica Rocha contributed to this report.