When he came to the annual National Night Out in Lincolnshire, where neighbors usually spend time with police officers who are sworn to protect them, Riverwoods resident Andrew Dunroseman had one agenda in mind — outrun the cops.
On an inflatable pony, that is.
The Lincolnshire event, a part of a national program designed to improve relations between police and residents, featured officers swimming in a dunk tank, an obstacle course, a petting zoo, food, music and races on inflatable ponies.
Dunroseman, 11, defeated Lake Forest community service officer Ben Panitch, an 18-year-old recent graduate from Stevenson High School who was stacking up victories against younger opponents in the inflatable race Aug. 5.
“I can run really fast, and I have a strategy that works,” Dunroseman said. “It’s important to lean forward on the pony, so you can jump further forward.”
He along with dozens of other area children enjoyed a nice summer evening at North Park in Lincolnshire during the National Night Out event. Numerous communities host National Night Out events, a program started by the National Association of Town Watch to connect neighbors with their local police officers.
In nearby Buffalo Grove, village officials hosted a National Night Out event Aug. 2 at William Stream Park in the village. At Lincolnshire, police Sgt. Kim Covelli said roughly 1,000 people came out for National Night Out, doubling the number of people who came in 2015, when Lincolnshire held the event on a Tuesday night.
“We decided to try it on a Friday this year because all of the villages around us have it on the first Tuesday of August, and we’re competing with those towns,” Covelli said. “And on a Tuesday night, people are just getting home from work and it might be difficult to get their families out.”
More Top Picks Best Diet For Heart Disease
Buffalo Grove resident Mark Ma took his son, Mason, on the inflatable race. The dad said he came to Lincolnshire for National Night Out because the weather was great and he wanted to support law enforcement.
“I want Mason to enjoy the summertime, and show the police department our support,” Ma said. “We appreciate their efforts.”
Twitter @RonnieAtPioneer