Behind the Badge
“You guys like horses?”
Anaheim PD Officer Patrick Bradley, a member of the mounted unit, addressed the two boys as they looked, wide eyed, at Lincoln, a 15-year-old police horse.
Bruno Rincon, 3, of Anaheim types 911 on an iPad as APD Dispatcher Jamie Rivera works with kids to reenforce what they should do in case of an emergency. Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Jackson Hayden, 5, and his brother, Cameron, 2, shyly took in the scene at the APD’s National Night Out on Tuesday, Aug. 6 in Maxwell Park – which last year was overrun with a sizable homeless population and couldn’t be used for the annual event.
Following efforts by the APD’s West District Community Policing Team, Homeless Outreach Team, and Psychiatric Emergency Response Team, as well as several community partners, Maxwell Park has been cleaned up and restored to its previous state as a safe place for families to enjoy.
Anaheim Police Chief Jorge Cisneros welcomes everyone who came to the police department’s National Night Out at Maxwell Park.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
A visit and picture session with Lincoln was one of the boys’ first stops at the three-hour event, which played out nationally for the 36th consecutive year in some 16,000 communities, attracting close to 40 million people.
National Night Out is designed to educate the public about various aspects of police agencies, including crime and drug-prevention strategies.
Anaheim PD Officer Brett Klevos’ K9, Leo, latches onto the decoy (pretend bad guy), APD Officer Mike Dohmann, during a demonstration at Anaheim PD’s National Night Out.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
It’s all about neighborhood unity, awareness and safety – and strengthening community spirit and police-community partnerships.
The APD pulls out all the stops each year at National Night Out, including tours of a helicopter that is part of the agency’s Angel fleet, a shoot/don’t shoot scenario trailer, a K9 demonstration, and much more.
The Ortiz family gets their chance to pet Anaheim PD Officer Patrick Bradley’s police horse, Lincoln, during Anaheim PD’s National Night Out.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
At the APD’s Mounted Unit booth, Bradley displayed the face shields horses wear for protection during rallies and other events in which protestors may get violent.
When then-presidential candidate Donald Trump came to Anaheim for a rally in May 2016, some attendees hurled rocks and other objects that hit the Plexiglas face shields, as well as shields worn by officers, Bradley said. Eleven people were arrested on suspicion of failing to disperse or of vandalism.
Kim Eggenburg of Anaheim and her son, Brandon, 10, check out fake handguns confiscated by Anaheim police as they visit the Gangs booth staffed by APD Officer Alex Ungureanu and APD Investigation Technician Lucy Hernandez. Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
“The (face shields) are the only protection they wear,” Bradley said of the horses.
Hayden asked close friends Chris and Marion Dunn to tag along with her and her sons to the event (Hayden’s husband, a contractor, was working).
Titan, an APD K9, shows his ability to locate drugs hidden under a box.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
The Dunns were happy to go.
Chris Dunn spent 31 years as a deputy with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department before retiring in 2010 as an investigator. Dunn, of Orange, still works for the OCSD part time.
Titan, an APD K9, gets ready for his reward after locating hidden drugs during a demonstration.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
“It’s a great community event that builds strong bonds and trust,” Dunn said of National Night Out.
Tommy Ruiz Sr., a longtime volunteer at the APD who worked for 33 years in the city’s Public Works department, escorted McGruff the Crime Dog around Maxwell Park.
Anaheim PD Officer Ryan Schmidt demonstrates K9 Kylo’s ability to follow orders during a demonstration at Anaheim PD’s National Night Out.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
McGruff especially was popular with the kids.
“This is good for the community and good for all of us to get together,” Ruiz Sr. said.
Three-year-old Savannah Manzanares of Placentia walks up to pet Leo after a K9 demonstration.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
He approached a 2-year-old girl in a stroller.
“You want a badge?” Ruiz Sr. said as he handed her a sticker.
The girl took it and studied it.
“Say thank you,” her mother said.
Emmett Smith Hrabal, 2, rides on the shoulder of his mother, Alana, as his father, Dan, follows behind.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Members of the APD’s various units — Homicide, Robbery & Assault, and the like – talked to visitors and provided them with brochures and other handouts detailing what they do as well as handing out crime prevention information. They offered visitors goodies and prizes, and provided simple toss and spin-the-wheel games.
Anaheim PD SWAT team member Officer Brett Heitmann talks with people about the SWAT team and the tools available to officers at Anaheim PD’s National Night Out.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
At the APD Detention Facility booth, correctional officers who work inside the agency’s jail had kids pose for pseudo booking photos while holding placards that described their “crimes” (not doing my chores at home, not cleaning my room, not getting straights As).
APD Chief Jorge Cisneros worked the crowd at the event, which ran from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., before making brief remarks and awarding Anaheim neighborhood leaders with National Night Out Block Captain’s Awards. Block captains are neighborhood watch leaders who liaison with the PD and the community.
Mohamed Elkhatid of Anaheim catches his 3-year-old son, Tareq, who wore a police uniform to Anaheim PD’s National Night Out as they get a look at a SWAT vehicle on display at Maxwell Park.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Anaheim Fire & Rescue had two booths at NNO, one to recruit residents to become members of CERT (Community Emergency Response Team), and another in which they handed out free smoke alarms as well as free containers in which to dispose of used motor oil for recycling.
Natchiel Lampson, 2, of Anaheim gets a high-five from McGruff the Crime Dog at Anaheim PD’s National Night Out.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Two to three times a day, AF&R personnel find and properly dispose of used motor oil careless residents leave in alleys, on streets, and elsewhere, said Hazardous Materials Specialist Russ Siems. He and other AF&R staffers handed out information about where people can bring used oil and filters for recycling.
Det. Cesar Aguilar, of the APD’s Burglary/Auto Theft Detail, answered questions about protecting homes from being burglarized, and distributed information on how to avoid “porch pirates.”
Maya Zavala, 7, of Anaheim checks out the equipment used by Anaheim PD’s SWAT team with her mother, Carmelita.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
The Robbery and Assault Detail booth had visuals that attracted many people, including photos of bank robbery suspects and a display of weapons confiscated by APD detectives, including a machete, an axe, a butterfly knife, switchblades, brass knuckles, and some medieval-looking steel ball with spikes on a chain.
“Those are very dangerous!” one boy said as he gawked at the weapons.
Jian Pinkney, 4, of Anaheim tosses tethered balls toward a bar to get a prize at the Homicide Unit booth during Anaheim PD’s National Night Out.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Dispatchers who work in the APD’s Communication Division explained to visitors how to properly use 911, and stressed the importance of telling dispatchers their precise address should they ever need to call because of an emergency.
“This is a good way for members of our agency to meet residents face to face,” said Kaelynn Craddick, an APD dispatcher of two years who was attending her first NNO.
“It brings the community together,” Craddick said.
Anaheim PD’s Angel helicopter Pilot Jimmy Elliott takes off from Maxwell Park as a crowd watches during Anaheim PD’s National Night Out.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
McGruff the Crime Dog greets a kid at Maxwell Park.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Elizabeth Anguiano, of Anaheim PD’s Traffic Office, talks to kids about bicycle safety while giving out books and other related safety items.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Anaheim Police Chief Jorge Cisneros presents a Block Captain of the Year award to David Garcia and Elia Renteria during APD’s National Night Out.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Mitchell Lee, center, receives the District Five Block Captain of the Year award from Anaheim Police Chief Jorge Cisneros, left, and Anaheim Councilman Stephen Faessel.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Anaheim Councilman Stephen Faessel, left, and Anaheim Police Chief Jorge Cisneros present the Community Engagement Award to Managers Edward Gonzalez and Jose Prado, right, of Northgate Market during APD’s National Night Out.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
