Elmwood Park held its National Night Out event days earlier than the usual first Tuesday of August, with the village police department not missing out on the chance to have residents and emergency responders to mix and mingle.
National Night Out is billed as an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships, neighborhood camaraderie and crime prevention. The village held its event Aug. 1.
“National Night Out is a fantastic event that brings our community together,” Elmwood Park police Chief Andrew Hock told Pioneer Press.
According to village Clerk Gina Pesko, the event in Central Park featured children’s activities, live music and food from Top Butcher Market of nearby Chicago’s Montclare neighborhood.
Pesko explained that National Night Out is an opportunity for law enforcement personnel and residents to come together, get to know one another and foster a sense of community and safety.
“This is a terrific event every year,” village Trustee Elsa Estrada-Volpe stated in the August edition of the village newsletter. “Officers are in plain clothes interacting with neighbors and friends. We’re building trust and a spirit of collaboration with our first responders.”
Pesko said National Night Out included representation from Elmwood Park Community Church, Turning Point Dance Studio, the Elmwood Park Public Library, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul’s office and Elmhurst-based NORCOMM, which handles Elmwood Park’s 911 system.
The National Association of Town Watch calls the nationwide event a collaborative effort to make communities safer, more caring places to live.
“We believe that strong partnerships between law enforcement and the community are essential to creating safe neighborhoods,” Hock said.
Elmwood Park was among more than 175 towns scheduled to participate in National Night Out with neighboring River Grove presenting its event on Aug. 3 and nearby Cicero, Norridge, Park Ridge and Schiller Park all scheduling their events for Tuesday night.
“National Night Out enhances the relationship between neighbors and law enforcement while bringing back a true sense of community,” National Association of Town Watch officials stated on the event’s website. “Furthermore, it provides a great opportunity to bring police and neighbors together under positive circumstances.”
According to the village newsletter, more than 100 people attend National Night Out in Elmwood Park annually.
Officials noted in the newsletter that the event is replicated throughout the United States and Canada in neighborhoods and on military bases and is designed to make communities safer.en
“It is a valuable event for the community and the police,” Estrada-Volpe stated in the newsletter. “No one knows their neighborhood better than the residents who live there.”
Jessi Virtusio is a freelancer.
