Behind the Badge
Santa Ana Police Department’s National Night Out festivities gave the community an opportunity to get an up-close primer on every facet of the department directly from the sworn and professional members of the department doing the job every day.
Staged annually on the first Tuesday in August, National Night Out events are hosted by law enforcement agencies to showcase their departments and foster a sense of community by bringing the police and neighbors together in a relaxed, family friendly atmosphere. Santa Ana Police Department held its family friendly National Night Out event on Aug. 2, 2022 at Thornton Park.
“The way I can describe it is an open house for law enforcement and for our community members to just spend time with the police,” said Commander Joe Marty, who oversees the department’s Community Engagement Division. “The biggest message is that we are their police department. I stress ‘their’ because we belong to them. It is an absolute partnership and collaboration. Crimes are not solved by just law enforcement. They are solved together with community members by both of us coming together.”
Attendees learned what forensic specialists and dispatchers do, when to call 911, and when not to call 911. They learned about the role of the traffic unit and when the SWAT team is called into action.
Little ones got to straddle Santa Ana Police Department’s futuristic-looking BMX motorcycles.
“They want to know how fast it goes,” Motor Officer Rene Guerrero said. “They want to know what all the buttons are for. I always tell them to wear their helmets. We preach helmets.”
Mounted Santa Ana Police Officers Jorge Garcia, riding on Clex, and Jaime Lopez, riding on Willow, greet members of the public during the annual National Night Out at Thornton Park on Tuesday, August 2, 2022.
Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer
Officers at the Traffic Division tent, in fact, were giving away bicycle helmets, reflectors, and other safety gear to community members. Attendees also got to meet 24-year-old Chex and 11-year-old Willow, the horses who make up Santa Ana Police Department’s mounted unit.
“Santa Ana doesn’t have a lot of horses,” said Detective Jorge Garcia, Chex’s rider and owner. “So anytime they see one in the city, it puts a smile on people’s faces, especially children. It’s just a joy for us to share them with the city.”
K9 Officer Ryan Shifflett and his 3-year-old Belgian Malinois partner, Kuno, were a popular meet-and-greet team.
“Being out here for National Night Out is always a great chance to show the community that these dogs are just happy go lucky friendly dogs that are just very well trained and just do what we need them to do, when we need them to do it,” Shifflett said.
Santa Ana Police Officer Ryan Shifflett introduces his dog, Kuno, to Daniela Chavez, Sophie Berber and Joseph Chavez, from left, during the annual National Night Out at Thornton Park on Tuesday, August 2, 2022.
Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer
National Night Out began in 1984 as a community-building and crime prevention initiative. The first ever National Night Out was held in 400 communities in 23 states and was attended by 2.5 million community members, according to the organization’s website. Now in its 38th year, National Night Out events take place in 16,000 communities nationwide and draw an estimated 38 million attendees.
Maria Silares was passing through Santa Ana from the Bay area to visit family when she decided to stop by Thornton Park for the festivities with her 16-year-old daughter, 10-year-old niece and 6-year-old nephew.
Knocking down the barrier of communication between the police and the community makes National Night Out events an important part of the department’s community relations.
“A lot of our community are afraid of the police,” Silares said. “There is nothing to be afraid of.”
Officer Jesse Hernandez poses for a photo with Diego Torres, 6, of Santa Ana during National Night Out at Thornton Park on Tuesday evening, August 2, 2022.
Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer
Ammy Beltran from Santa Ana, who came with her two sons, said National Night Out events can help children feel safe.
“I think it’s especially important for my kids, because they are kids of color,” said Beltran, a music teacher at Valley High School in Santa Ana. “I think it is especially important for my kids to feel safe, that they know who the people in their police department are. That makes me feel safer.”
Eva Barrios of Santa Ana poses for a photo with mounted Santa Ana Police Officers Jorge Garcia and Jaime Lopez during the department’s participation in the annual National Night Out at Thornton Park on Tuesday, August 2, 2022. Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer
Santa Ana Police Forensic Specialist Michelle McKeever helps Camila Enriquez, 5, of Santa Ana play a ring toss game during National Night Out at Thornton Park on Tuesday, August 2, 2022. Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer
Santa Ana Police Department Officers Rene Gurrero and Nancy Lopez help Charbel Abi Cheded, 5, of Santa Ana check out a department motorcycle during National Night Out at Thornton Park on Tuesday, August 2, 2022. Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer
Mounted Santa Ana Police Officers Jorge Garcia, riding on Clex, and Jaime Lopez, riding on Willow, greet members of the public during the annual National Night Out at Thornton Park on Tuesday, August 2, 2022. Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer
Santa Ana Police Forensic Specialist Michelle McKeever helps Emily Estrada, 6, of Santa Ana play a ring toss game during National Night Out at Thornton Park on Tuesday, August 2, 2022. Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer
Ethan Maietta, a Santa Ana Police Department K-9 officer, shows Isahim Castro, 6, and Ilias Castro, 4, of Santa Ana the inside of one of the department’s tactical vehicles during National Night Out at Thornton Park on Tuesday, August 2, 2022. Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer
Ethan Maietta, a Santa Ana Police Department K-9 officer, shows Isahim Castro, 6, and Ilias Castro, 4, of Santa Ana the inside of one of the department’s tactical vehicles during National Night Out at Thornton Park on Tuesday, August 2, 2022. Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer
Members of the Santa Ana Police Department, and other local agencies, interact with the public during National Night Out, an annual community-building campaign aimed at enhancing the relationship between neighbors and law enforcement, in Santa Ana’s Thornton Park on Tuesday, August 2, 2022. Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer
Santa Ana Police Explorer Jackelyn Murillo helps Aaron Robles, 9, of Santa Ana try on a tactical helmet at the departments photo booth during the annual National Night Out in Thornton Park on Tuesday, August 2, 2022. Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer
