Shafter Police Night Out set for Oct. 8

The Shafter Police Department is inviting the community to spend a night with some of Shafter's finest as they hold the Shafter Police Department Night Out event at Veterans Park on Tuesday, Oct. 8

The event is a community-police awareness-raising event in which the community will have a chance to meet officers who work to protect them and talk with them, with an opportunity to ask ask questions and socialize. There are no agendas or speeches.

The department will be giving out child ID kits to parents who would like to register their children with the department. The kit includes fingerprints, photo, vital statistics, etc.., to be used in case of an emergency.

"The kits are a great way to be prepared in the case, God forbid, that something was to happen and the child's vital information, prints, and recent photo are available and registered with the department," Zimmermann said.

They will also be giving out stickers, booklets and other souvenirs.

Attendees can check out police vehicles, along with units from the Kern County Fire Department and Hall Ambulance.

This event is a continuance of the efforts the department has made to become more accessible to the public and letting the community know that they do more than just patrol the streets.

With the addition of a dedicated community relations officer which was recently approved by the City Council, the department is looking to continue their relationship with the people of Shafter, working to make the city one of the safest communities in Kern County.

The event will begin at 6 p.m. and end at 8 p.m. Veterans Park is located at 710 S. Schnaidt St.

--Jamie Stewart