DeKalb Times

Each August, more than 175 Illinois communities participate in National Night Out. The program, which began in 1984, aims to link Neighborhood Watch and law enforcement organizations with residents. On this night, neighborhoods host block parties, festivals, parades, cookouts, and various other community events featuring safety demonstrations, seminars, youth events, visits from emergency personnel, exhibits, and more. It has become an effective way to strengthen the relationship between law enforcement and communities.

This year, Illinois State Representatives Jeff Keicher, Jennifer Sanalitro, Dan Ugaste and Dennis Tipsword joined their communities at National Night Out events.

Rep. Ugaste attended an event hosted by the Village of South Elgin and the South Elgin Police Department featuring family-friendly activities, food trucks and other entertainment.

“The highlight was the community engagement and being able to talk to numerous constituents and their families,” said Ugaste. “The village and police department did a great job bringing the community together.”

Rep. Tipsword, a Chief Deputy at the Woodford County Sheriff’s Office, attended a National Night Out event in El Paso. The evening featured a celebration of community partnerships with all first responders. El Paso Police Chief Joe Montemurro hosted the event which included a hot dog eating contest, music, bounce houses, face-painting for kids, equipment demonstrations and much more.

“Keeping our neighborhoods safe is not only a law enforcement effort,” Tipsword explained. “It requires the whole community.”

Rep. Sanalitro attended events in Woodale and Itasca. Woodale’s National Night Out event featured police and fire vehicles, games, free ice cream, a DJ bingo bookmobile moon jump and more. In Itasca families enjoyed police department tours Touch-a-Truck raffles and face painting Sanalitro joined local police fire chiefs mayors and other elected officials in engaging with the community.

“The relationships built at National Night Out events go long way in improving the safety of residents,” said Sanalitro “It helps improve understanding builds respect.”

In Sycamore Rep Keicher attended the National Night Out event hosted at Hy-Vee grocery store Several law enforcement organizations others participated in the event kids were treated with Touch-a-Truck program

According to Keicher “National Night Out is a great opportunity for the community to engage with officers who patrol our neighborhoods so we can work together to keep our families safe.”

National Night Out has its roots in Neighborhood Watch

In 1981 NATW was formed establish network of law enforcement agencies neighborhood watch groups civic groups state regional crime prevention associations volunteers across nation

NATW provided members necessary information resources assets stay informed interested involved motivated within community Neighbors local law enforcement across nation supported association steadily grew next three years

Then August 1984 NATW introduced National Night Out campaign through its network bringing law enforcement neighbors together create positive experiences

The first annual National Night Out involved 2.5 million neighbors across 400 communities in 23 states

“Coming together for National Night Out is an excellent opportunity to build stronger relationships between residents law enforcement” summed-up Ugaste “We must work together create safer vibrant neighborhoods”