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Crime & Safety

Beverly Hills Celebrates National Night Out

Residents come together for the nationwide crime prevention and emergency preparedness event.

Nothing can prepare people for an earthquake better than a simulation of the real thing, which is why Safe-T-Proof’s Quake Cottage was one of the activities available Tuesday at the Beverly Hills Police Department’s National Night Out event.

For those brave enough to get inside, the Quake Cottage simulates the power of an 8.0-magnitude earthquake.

“It shows you what you need to do to your home to keep things from falling off the shelves and counters,” said Officer Don Chase, the event organizer. “That’s what’s going to injure you in an earthquake—the things that fall on you.”

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The BHPD participated with 15,000 other communities in the nationwide National Night Out event, which is held annually to get information about crime prevention and emergency preparedness out to the public. It coincided with the department's fourth Neighborhood Watch block party, a community event held every couple of months in a different Beverly Hills neighborhood. Tuesday's festivities were on North Hillcrest Road near the home of famed broadcaster Larry King and his wife, Shawn.

“My wife and I were asked to co-host the event and we’re very close to the Beverly Hills police,” King said. “We have great respect for them and I think it’s a great idea to get people prepared for emergencies and train people about earthquakes.”

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In addition to the earthquake simulator, there were police and fire displays, and three gourmet food trucks. The Beverly Hills Rotary Club was on hand with disaster preparedness kits for sale.

“It’s a good turn out so far,” Chase said. “People are stopping by and getting information.”

Kamyar Shabani and his family recently moved to the neighborhood, so he brought his wife and children to the event so they could meet their neighbors and feel like part of the community.

“We wanted our kids to get out and enjoy the outdoors while they get to know the police officers in the city,” Shabani said. “The officers are teaching the kids about safety, which is great, but they’re doing it in a very fun environment.”

Victor Gonzalez and his friend, Tessa Estrada, who both work at , came to see the officers who often come to the restaurant and make them feel safe.

“They’re always great morale boosters and they always provide a good sense of community,” Gonzalez said. “That’s why I came here tonight with Tessa, to celebrate that and just thank them for it.”

For Gonzalez, the coolest thing at the event was the armored S.W.A.T. vehicle.

“That thing is indestructible,” Gonzalez said. “It’s just cool to get to see their toys, except these are toys that can save the world.”

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