KING CITY — King City police and fire departments joined forces last Tuesday to host National Night Out 2025, which took place on a closed section of Bassett Street between the stations so community members could participate in games and raffles, as well as get to know the personnel from both agencies.
The firehouse was open with the trucks on display outside to provide space inside for community group tables and booths. Groups including the King City Boxing Club, Sol Treasures and multiple churches were on hand to provide information, lead activities or offer free snacks. Meanwhile, firefighters cooked 500 hot dogs to give away.
“It’s a chance to get the community out and get to know your neighbors, get to know the fire department and police department personnel, and just see what different service groups can offer the community,” said KCFD Administrative Assistant Tom Nuck, one of the organizers of the Aug. 5 event.
KCPD Executive Assistant Terry Garcia said the annual celebration is outreach for the police and fire departments.
“It took many years to build that trust and that transparency in a relationship with the community, and to have that continue is very important,” Garcia said.
Nuck said attendance was lower this year due to first week of school activities for elementary students.
“I believe there is less this year, but it’s still a great turnout,” Garcia said. “Throughout the years the number has increased more and more.”
Nuck also noted this year marked an absence of the California Highway Patrol and Monterey County Sheriff’s Office.
“Due to budget constraints, many departments didn’t go ahead with their National Night Out, or some had it together, like how Soledad Police Department had the Sheriff’s Department,” Garcia said.
For the police, officers on duty were able to show up, and off-duty officers could attend out of uniform. For the fire department, Nuck said the department had its regular Tuesday meeting that night, so everyone available was able to participate in National Night Out just before the meeting.
The large window from 4 to 7 p.m. was done to allow families to attend with flexibility for people’s schedules. While there, youth were able to play such games as giant bowling, frog launcher or the dunk tank. Members from both the PD and FD went into the dunk tank.
“We like to have fun as well,” Garcia said. “Our officers are human and like to have fun. They have a life outside their uniform.”
Numerous prizes were awarded throughout the evening, which had adults going back to the police side of the street during each drawing announcement. Nuck credited Garcia and King City Recreation and Event Coordinator Alicia Reyes with collecting those items.
Garcia said most of the alerts went out through social media and with letters, and called the response from businesses “great.” While some provided prizes, other businesses provided monetary donations.
Nuck called the fire department the “labor” of the event, and Garcia concurred.
“They have a lot more hands to help us out,” Garcia said. “They open their doors because King City gets very windy and they have this [fire house] space available.”
