Clovis PD hosts fifth annual ‘Night Out’

Thousands who gathered Saturday at Sierra Meadows Park for the fifth annual Clovis Night Out, organized by the Clovis Police Department, learned about weapons and vehicles and also got a look at the everyday life of an officer.

Sgt. James Munro said that despite the heat, many came out for the annual celebration, meet and greet and fireworks show, part of a larger national night out promoting safety, collaboration and family fun. He said officials expected 15,000 would attend, topping last year’s turnout.

Over 90 vendors, 10 food trucks and several fundraising booths were on hand. Children had their faces painted, hair colored and had the opportunity to meet what some parents called their local heroes.

Malina Mohammadi brought her 4-year-old son, David to the event to get out of the house and have some fun.

“He loves police officers and firefighters, so this is a great event for us,” Mohammadi said. David, wearing a red plastic fire hat, showed off his four stickers representing each organization involved – Clovis police, firemen, SWAT and the sheriff’s department. When he grows up, David said, he wants to be a fireman.

As David climbed atop one of the larger SWAT vehicles on display at the park for a picture, Mohammadi said that this was what the event was all about.

Munro said that the community response over the last five years has been amazing, and officers have been able to spread a message of safety and cooperation not always represented in the media.

“We watch the news as well, we see the events taking place over the nation in the last year, and many of them are unfortunate events, but you can’t paint every officer or every law enforcement agency with a broad brush,” Munro said. “So events like these let us get out and let people know we’re human, we’re normal, we all have families and our job is if you call, we’re going to come help you.”

Zach Holiday, 15, and William Beckman, 14, were volunteering as part of their Boy Scouts troop at the event, picking up trash, cleaning recycling bins and helping out.

“It gives everyone the chance to see who these people really are, and they know everyone is OK and the community is safe,” Zach said. “That’s important.”

Children played tug-o-war, families gathered to get more information about Clovis Community Watch and parents and children gathered to see demonstrations from SWAT team members and firefighters.

Five-year-old Braiden Davis’ favorite activity of the day: watching a fireman be hoisted a hundred feet into the air with a crane from one of the long line of trucks and special vehicles. He even got to go on the rig, said his mom, Kristi Davis.

This story was originally published September 26, 2015 at 8:18 PM with the headline "Clovis PD hosts fifth annual ‘Night Out’."