Burbank gets ready for Night Out

Burbank’s annual National Night Out takes place Tuesday, offering the public a chance to get to know their neighbors and police.

The block-party style event will offer free food and is part of a national one-night rally designed to strengthen ties between police and residents.

Burbank police and the city’s Park, Recreation and Community Services department host the event.

The main city and police-sponsored event will be held on the Chandler Bikeway. Sgt. Darin Ryburn said 18 additional block parties are planned by Neighborhood Watch block captains.

Groups of two officers will be attending two to three block parties each to reach out to the community, Ryburn said, adding that this is the second year the department will have officers spending time in the community as a form of training.

“We have a community resource officer, but this is an opportunity for all of us, as officers, to reach out to the community,” Ryburn said. “We don’t only receive training in tactics and safety, and you can consider this communications training.”

Police are encouraging residents and businesses to get together to discuss emergency preparedness and safety issues for the neighborhood.

Block captains will have information on how residents can sign up for Nixle alerts — a sort of web-based text messaging system for breaking public safety events. Police also are hoping to get feedback from residents on what they’d like to see on the new police website.

Last year more than 1,100 people attended Burbank’s National Night Out, police said.

Tuesday’s event takes place on the bike path, between Keystone and Brighton streets and is scheduled from 5:30 to 8 p.m.

For more information, contact Officer Cindy Guillen at (818) 238-3235.

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