By Janie McGrann
Villager Contributor
The 22nd District of the Chicago Police Department will host their National Night Out event on Tuesday, August 4 at Beverly Park from 5-8 p.m. This annual event takes place nationwide on the first Tuesday of August to encourage connections between police departments and the local community.
This year, guests can expect an exciting array of activities for groups of all ages. There will be a DJ, band and bagpipers playing throughout the night. Kids can participate in potato sack races, facepainting, coloring and more. There will also be food cooked by the officers available and a number of eateries that have donated food to the event including Nicky V’s, the McDonald’s on 95th and Western and Happy Jacks, who will donate a cotton candy machine and snow cone machine.
Along with the officers of the 22nd District, guests will have the opportunity to meet members of the Chicago Fire Department, Cook County SWAT team, and, of course, the K-9 unit. Army vehicles and other police equipment will be on display for guests to view and a Chicago Police Department helicopter will do a flyover of the park.
“It’s a chance to get people from the community to come to the park and get to know the officers and experience some of the things we might have. We’re hoping to show some special equipment you might not see on the street everyday,” said 22nd District Police Commander Patrick Darling.
National Night Out began in August of 1984 in an effort to connect communities and encourage camaraderie among law enforcement agencies and other regional crime prevention groups. What began as small neighborhood vigils eventually turned into larger celebrations, with block parties and festivals to celebrate. The 22nd District tends to have one of the larger turnouts in the city of Chicago. Officer Alex Turner helps with the cooking at the event, and enjoys being able to talk with friends and community members who gather at the grill throughout the night.
“The police department can come out with the community and relax a little and invite people into our settings,” he said. “It gives us more of a direct connection with the public.”
