Manteca police and firefighters traveled through the city’s neighborhoods Tuesday night to celebrate National Night Out as they met residents gathered in front yards and on driveways.
It was part of an effort to bring neighbors together in a bid to build stronger relationships so people could be more aware of unusual activity that may signal crime occurring and alert police. It also allows for residents and first responders to get to know each other. 
 It was in the 500 block of Lupton,  near Sequoia School,  that the Manteca High School cheer squad composed of 28 freshmen, junior varsity and varsity cheerleaders demonstrated several routines  in the street in front of a home that had opened its yard to the neighborhood.
In the Del Webb community, Manteca officers including Sgt. Mike Aguilar, Captain Tony Souza and detectives Gregg Beall and Jason Bonetti found citizens who were former members of several police departments in the Bay Area and even some currently working and commuting to work.
Mike Brazil had worked for the Fremont Police Department for the past 15 years assigned to patrol as well as a crime scene investigator for eight years. Brazil said he was injured on the job and retired and has since gone to work for Google. Don Woolard was quick to shake hands with the Manteca officers.  Woolard had worked for the San Francisco Police Department for 37 years and worked traffic on motorcycle patrol for 10 of those years. He, too, has gone to work for a social media firm.
One of the largest events at Del Webb was found in the neighborhood park area centered in their residential community.
Fire Captain Sterrie McLeod and his crew drove his 100-foot ladder truck over to the east side of town on Mylnar Avenue where Keith Jackson served as the block captain. He has hosted National Night Out parties for the last 15 years.  The neighborhood children gathered around and were shown through the truck and even put into the driver’s seat, one at a time – wanting to push every button they could find.
One 3-year-old asked where the horn button was located.  McLeod said he would show her and the other children the red lights and siren when they left – and show they did as they headed over to Slayton Drive in the Magna Terra residential area north of Doctors Hospital  and were greeted by McGruff the Crime Dog already patrolling that area.
The Del Webb community alone on North Union Road had 19 parties during the evening in addition to some 50 others throughtout Manteca.  

To contact Glenn Kahl, email gkahl@mantecabulletin.com.