National Night Out puts emergency personnel in spotlight
You won't likely see drug awareness and crime prevention at the top of a list of fun family activities.
But the Arlington Heights National Night Out manages to pack a powerful message within the framework of the traditional picnic in the park.
The event this year is 5:30-8:30 p.m. Aug. 4 at North School Park, on the outskirts of downtown at Eastman Street and Arlington Heights Road. It is sponsored by the Arlington Heights Park District, the police and fire departments and Northwest Community Healthcare.
Free Popsicles, balloons, popcorn, water and soda will be available, as well as ample giveaways. In addition, balloon sculptors, a business expo, games, moonwalks and music, courtesy of a DJ, are part of the evening.
There is definitely much fun to be had. But there are some lessons to be taught as well.
"Some villages will do (something) like a festival. We put more of an educational spin on ours," said Arlington Heights police Crime Prevention Officer Doug Hajek.
The Arlington Heights Park District echoes that sentiment.
"Crime prevention, drug awareness and strengthening the neighborhood spirit and community relations are near and dear to our hearts," said Shannon Ridgeway, superintendent of marketing and communications for the park district.
Hajek said all the police department's bureaus will be there - the traffic bureau, forensic technicians, crime prevention, the bicycle units and school resource officers as well as Northwest Central Dispatch.
"We try to represent as much of law enforcement and safety organizations as we can and then make it interactive," he said. One thing that is still in development is a pedal car demonstration involving goggles that teaches what it is like to drive while intoxicated and then compare it to the experience of driving while sober.
Agencies outside of Arlington Heights will also participate, including the Secret Service and the Cook County Sheriff's Bomb Squad, and the sheriff's canine and crime prevention unit.
Hajek said the Secret Service has come out every year, sometimes with a Presidential limousine. The FBI has also come out with its command vehicle the last two years.
The Arlington Heights Fire Department will bring their smoke house, to teach children what to do in case of fire; and will demonstrate extracting someone from a vehicle after a crash.
Hajek said the fire department will have a firefighter descend a rope and get tangled up, only to be rescued by a second firefighter.
Something new this year is a result of a collaboration with the Masons, Hajek said. CHIP is a child identification program in which a color photo is taken of a child, who is then given a short interview and fingerprinted. This information will be burned onto a CD that they give to the parents. If the child is lost or abducted, the parents can give this information to the police department.
In addition, officers from the Too Good for Drugs program - which replaced the DARE program - will make an appearance.
"I think people are appreciative of being able to see all sides of the police department. We do a Citizens Police Academy, which is run twice a year. This is like a crash course," Hajek said.