Community policing

MOSES LAKE – The Moses Lake Police Department partnered with other city departments and organizations to host National Night Out Tuesday evening in McCosh Park. The event featured games, activities, informational booths and free food.

MLPD Evidence Technician Miranda Martínez is responsible for community outreach from the department, including National Night Out.

"Celebrated all over the nation, it’s always the first Tuesday of August," said Martínez. "It's a community event, for public safety teaching and letting the community know their resources."

Martinez said that the turnout was good earlier in the event and that she expected it to increase later in the evening, despite the heat.

"Obviously the snow cone line is the busiest, but as the night goes on we start getting more and more people," she said. "Last year we had a turnout of 400 people, so I’m hoping to get there, or more. I’m excited.”

Snow cones and food were provided for free at the event alongside the activities, which included being able to dunk Moses Lake Police officers in a tank of water by throwing balls at a target, as well as cornhole and a ride in the Simulated Driving Impaired vehicle, which allows the driver to feel the effects of driving impaired in a controlled environment.

Martinez also outlined some of the resources at the event.

"We have Big Bend, we have the Columbia Basin Dispute Resolution Center, we have (the Multiagency Communication Center) because that’s who we work closely with and it kind of give them an idea of what they do, how they do it, and how they communicate with us," said Martínez.

The communication center is also known as MACC 911.

The event included numerous local agencies and organizations that had stations around the park with promotional material and games for children, ranging from the MLPD to the Grant County Health District to Gesa Credit Union and more.

"It's just different resources that they have in their community if they’re ever in any kind of situation or just need help in general," said Martínez.

One of the resources that attended National Night Out was Kids Hope Children's Advocacy Center, a part of Moses Lake-based resource center New Hope. Kids Hope's Child Advocacy Center Coordinator Elisa Adolphsen said that the organization helps children who have been the victim of crime, neglect, or abuse.

"This is our…third year participating in National Night Out," said Adolphsen. "Typically the Moses Lake Police Department reaches out and we come and provide information to the community about safe parenting, some coloring books about body safety, and then some events that we’re having…so just putting some education out there for families in our community."

Another informational booth at the event was hosted by the Gesa Credit Union. The Community Outreach Specialist with the Moses Lake branch of the credit union, Stephanie Morales, spoke about why Gesa was involved with National Night Out.

"So being that one of our giving pillars is law enforcement…and since the police department are the ones that are hosting this and trying to get a great relationship with the community, we just wanted to be aligned with them in their efforts within the community," said Morales.

Local Moses Lake residents Petra De La Cruz and Mary De La Cruz also explained why they showed up for the event.

"Oh, just have some fun with the kids. We came last year. it was nice. A little bit different set up but kind of the same idea," said Petra De La Cruz.

"There’s a lot more people this time," said Mary De La Cruz.

Also attending the event was Moses Lake Deputy Mayor Deanna Martinez.

"I like that we do this, that the city does this along with the other partners," she said. "It’s a great way to just bring the community out."

Gabriel Davis may be reached at gdavis@columbiabasinherald.com. A resident of Othello, Davis covers Othello, Adams County, Warden, Soap Lake and Moses Lake.