Police, community, and local partners fill Sunken Gardens for a night of connection, safety awareness, and family fun

ATASCADERO — The Atascadero Police Department’s annual National Night Out on Tuesday, Aug. 5, drew an estimated crowd three to four times larger than last year’s event, filling Sunken Gardens with residents, local business owners, and public safety partners.

Police Commander Matt Chesson shared that the gathering far exceeded expectations, crediting the work of the event coordinators, Administrative Assistant Krystal Carlon and Officer Destiny Braun, for their marketing and outreach.

“Our coordinators did an incredible job marketing the event and raising awareness of it,” Chesson told Atascadero News. “The result was multitudes more community members, local business owners, and allied agencies (Atascadero State Hospital, SLO County Probation Department, Atascadero Fire Department, and the California Highway Patrol) with booths in attendance.”

The nationwide event was created to foster positive connections between law enforcement and the communities they serve, encouraging neighborhood camaraderie and safer living environments. In Atascadero, those goals were on full display as attendees engaged directly with officers, learned about local resources, and enjoyed an evening of food, music, and family-friendly activities.

One highlight of the night was the variety of memorable interactions between officers and the public. Chesson says that residents spoke with police about issues affecting their neighborhoods, receiving both short- and long-term strategies for solutions. Children, meanwhile, enjoyed climbing onto police motorcycles, exploring the department’s restored 1955 Chevy patrol car, and checking out the SLO County “Bearcat” SWAT/Special Enforcement Detail armored vehicle.

The event featured booths from numerous agencies and organizations, including Atascadero State Hospital, SLO County Probation Department, Atascadero Fire Department, and the California Highway Patrol. Each group offered information, demonstrations, and giveaways, creating an interactive environment for learning and engagement. Local businesses also played a key role, providing prizes for raffles and offering free samples to attendees.

The Atascadero Police Foundation maintained an active presence as well, distributing donated items, speaking with community members and business owners, and gathering contributions for charitable initiatives such as the department’s “Pink Patch Project” in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month this October.

Chesson emphasized that National Night Out is more than just a fun evening — it’s a vital opportunity to strengthen relationships between residents and public safety officials.

“National Night Out is an important annual event that affords us yet another cherished opportunity to engage and meet with our community while prizes are raffled off, the community can ask about past, present, or future public safety issues, and just enjoy food and drink together,” Chesson shared.

National Night Out is held annually in cities across the country. In Atascadero, the growing attendance shows that the tradition is not only alive and well but thriving, but it is creating bonds between neighbors and the officers dedicated to keeping them safe.

Feature Image: (From left) Atascadero Police Dispatchers Cheyenne Pacheco and Shandi Locke, and APD Officer Chris Hall were out to meet the public Tuesday, Aug. 5, at National Night Out in Atascadero. Photos by Rick Evans/ATN