Poway-area residents can meet their new sheriff's station captain face-to-face Thursday evening at a Faith & Blue community event in Rancho Bernardo.

The gathering runs from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 8, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 15750 Bernardo Heights Parkway, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune. Poway Sheriff's Station Capt. Nanette McMasters and Poway Fire Chief Brian Mitchell are both scheduled to attend.

McMasters took command of the Poway Sheriff's Station on Sept. 4, replacing former Capt. Claudia Delgado. She also oversees the San Diego Sheriff's Department substation in 4S Ranch.

Before the Poway assignment, McMasters served as captain for the Training Division at the Regional Public Safety Training Institute. She started her law enforcement career in 1998 as a probation officer and has worked patrol stations across San Diego County, including in Vista, San Marcos and the North Coastal stations.

When her appointment was announced in September, McMasters said, "I believe successful public safety outcomes rely on strong relationships, transparency, and a shared commitment to the community."

The evening opens outdoors from 6 to 6:20 p.m. with displays from the Sheriff's K-9 Unit, Mounted Patrol, a helicopter and fire trucks. Other units scheduled to appear include the Volunteer Senior Patrol, Sheriff's Crime Lab, the Special Enforcement Detail and the Bomb/Arson Unit.

Two community preparedness groups will also attend: the Poway Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and the Poway Neighborhood Emergency Corps (PNEC).

Mitchell, who presented to the Poway City Council on Sept. 1, has stressed residents' role in wildfire readiness. "We need help from the community so we're more resilient to wildfires and are safer," he said during that council presentation. About 75% of Poway's emergency calls are for medical services, but the city maintains year-round wildfire preparedness.

The event is free and open to all.

It falls one day ahead of the National Faith & Blue Weekend, which runs Oct. 9 through Oct. 12 and is co-convened by MovementForward, Inc. and the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services.

Residents with questions can email Poway Sheriff's Station crime prevention specialist Jayden Hebreo at [email protected].