It was mostly fun and games at National Night Out Against Crime in La Grange Park.
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“We’re inviting the community to come down and have a good time,” said Sgt. Felix Hernandez of the La Grange Park Police Department, which hosted the event Tuesday in Memorial Park.
Other law enforcement agencies, including the La Grange Police Department and the Cook County Sheriff’s Office, took part in the party where they met and chatted with members of the community.
Participants enjoyed eating free hot dogs and chips, jumping in bouncy houses and watching a magic show. The also stood for the national anthem and a moment of silence to remember police officers killed in the line of duty, particularly those in Dallas and Baton Rouge.
National Night Out has special significance this year because of those recent tragedies, said La Grange Park officer Gary Padalik.
“There’s more emphasis that’s being put on this, just because of the political climate,” he said.
The National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make neighborhoods safer, according to the National Association for Town Watch, a nonprofit that started the nationwide event in 1984.
Sitting in the park’s amphitheater as her son, Payton, 6, tooted a whistle he’d received as a giveaway from one of the local businesses at the party, Dawn Dahlgren of La Grange Park said she wants him and the whole community to look up to police.
“They should have respect and faith in them that they’re doing the right thing for us,” she said. “They’re not the bad guys.”
Her friend, Debbie Drolenga, who was there with her daughter, Katelynne, 5, agreed.
“I want to support my local police department,” she said.
The amphitheater was decorated with red, white and blue balloons. A Cook County Sheriff’s Department officer from the K-9 Unit introduced his dog to the crowd. Another displayed his motorcycle on the stage. The event also included music, visits from McGruff, the Crime Dog, and Sparky, the Fire Dog, and prize giveaways. Some lucky kids won bikes.
Drolenga said she was happy to see so many turn out for the event.
“I love to see everyone participating and supporting the police. It’s a good thing,” she said.
Padalik agreed.
“We want the community to see we’re not all bad people,” he said.
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