The Federal Bureau of Investigation shined the spotlight on the Menlo Park police department’s community event, Friday Night Lights, in their recent law enforcement bulletin. The department hosts this community event throughout Menlo Park during football season and is meant to bring officers and neighbors together. The department kicked off its second season in 2015, engaging residents across our entire community. At these events, officers and police staff autograph postcards, address questions and socialize with residents with food and fun activities. Most events utilize participating local restaurants for catering while others are more simple affairs with pizza and popcorn at various city facilities including the Arrillaga Family Recreation Center, the downtown Menlo Park “paseo” and the Belle Haven Neighborhood Service Center.

The new section in FBI bulletins highlights innovative community outreach efforts that uniquely model ways in which law enforcement agencies can engage their communities to build or strengthen local partnerships. Menlo Park will continue to collaborate with the community for these events, which kick off again in Fall 2016.