Children with painted faces darted between booths. Bass from the stage thumped down West 108th Street, where neighbors stopped to chat, collect flyers or sway to the music in the warm summer air.

Faith groups, civic organizations and public service providers lined the residential block—offering everything from mental health resources to traffic stop safety tips and movie nights in the park.

Nearby, uniformed Los Angeles Police Department officers mingled with residents, answered questions and chatted with young trainees in the department’s cadet program.

For a few hours Tuesday afternoon, the South Los Angeles neighborhood turned into a block party — part of National Night Out, a nationwide event designed to strengthen ties between law enforcement and the communities they serve. • Fiv

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