BEND, OR -- Law enforcement agencies host National Night Out events throughout Deschutes County Tuesday. Jessica Rich, with Bend Police, planned her agency's event and says it’s an important opportunity to build positive relationships in the community, "We often contact the public on some of their worst days. So it’s a good chance for us to share a different side of our staff. So our staff is going to be cooking hot dogs and serving food. We’ll be handing out swag and goodies. We’ll have a face painting booth, a bounce house." Demonstrations from K-9 and drone teams are also planned, "If you happen to see those folk in real time, out working, you probably don’t want to get too close to them. So this is a fun opportunity to get up close and see how they work."

Rich acknowledges the event takes officers briefly off patrol, "We are one of the leanest police departments in the state, and that means that we are doing a pretty good job with what we have. It is definitely a challenge to have our staff on site for an event like this. But it’s important work and we recognize that all of the day to day work that they do is really improved when we put time and energy into developing positive relationships with the community."  

Last year, Bend PD hosted National Night Out at Bend High. It was the first year the agency hosted its own event. Rich says the emergency demolition of the auditorium forced a last-minute change for this year, "Just because of all of the work they had to do associated with the auditorium, it really impacted our ability to use the site safely. And it became evident that we needed to find another location." She tells KBND News, "Bend High was an amazing partner and, unfortunately, because of all the construction this year, we did have to make a last minute shift over to Bear Creek." Bend PD’s National Night Out is Tuesday from 4 - 8 p.m. at Bear Creek Elementary. All activities are free.

Redmond Police are at Centennial Park from 6 - 8 p.m. Tuesday. The Deschutes County Sheriff's Office will have deputies at both BPD and RPD events, and hosts additional gatherings at Sisters Village Green Park and the La Pine Activity Center, also Tuesday from 6 - 8 p.m. Sunriver Police join local firefighters for National Night Out at the Sunriver Village from 5 - 6:30 p.m.

Photo: Officers meet with the public at the 2023 National Night Out, at Bend Senior High. Courtesy of the Bend Police Dept.