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Kane County sheriff's office hosts National Night Out event

Many local communities throughout the Fox Valley Tuesday participated in the 32nd annual National Night Out Against Crime with block parties, games and other activities.

It is celebrated annually the first Tuesday of August. Its goal is to promote crime prevention and safety programs, strengthen police-community partnerships and encourage neighborhood camaraderie. Learn more at natw.org/about/.

The Kane County sheriff's office conducted its National Night Out celebration at the Kane County Judicial Center campus in St. Charles.

Visitors were able to see the Superior Air Ambulance and meet Ozzie Cougar (the Kane County Cougars mascot), Queen Elsa from the Disney movie "Frozen" and McGruff the Crime Dog.

Then they got to meet a real police dog, the Kane County sheriff's Bloodhound K-9, Erin. Kids and adults alike gathered around the dog to give her a pat on the head.

People could also take a tour of the shooting range or inmate cell block. Corrections officer Ray Kobald took small groups through an empty inmate cell block and answered questions.

On hand were members of the sheriff's office's bomb unit, corrections response team, court security, honor guard, K-9 unit, and Special Weapons and Tactics.

Also meeting with people were representatives from the Kane County Division of Transportation, emergency communications (KaneComm), the Kane County Farm Bureau, Mounted Rangers, and Office of Emergency Management.

Aurora resident John Burkhalter and his family visited the event as a family for the first time. When asked what he thought his children learned from the event, he said: "I think they get a better understanding of what the police, fire and emergency services and everything do ... This is really good to give them a positive view of everything that these guys do, [and] to know that if there's ever a situation where they're needed, they're here to help us. They're not a scary thing; they're a good thing."

  Families wait in line on the front lawn at the Kane County Courthouse to see a Superior Air Ambulance up close at the Kane County Sheriff's National Night Out celebration in St. Charles Tuesday. Laura Stoecker/lstoecker@dailyherald.com
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