Strengthening police and community partnerships

Each August, more than 175 Illinois communities around the state participate in National Night Out. The program began in 1984 as a way to link Neighborhood Watch and Law Enforcement organizations with residents in their communities. On this night, neighborhoods across the state host block parties, festivals, parades, cookouts and various other community events with 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 and 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 and builds respect."

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

According to Keicher, “National Night Out is a great opportunity for the community to engage with the 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, the National Association of Town Watch (NATW) was formed to establish a network of law enforcement agencies, neighborhood watch groups, civic groups, state and regional crime prevention associations and volunteers across the nation.

NATW provided its members with the necessary information, resources and assets to stay informed, interested, involved, and motivated within the community. Neighbors and local law enforcement across the nation supported the association as it steadily grew for the next three years.

Then in August of 1984, NATW introduced the National Night Out campaign through its network, bringing law enforcement and neighbors together to 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 and law enforcement," summed-up Ugaste. "We must work together to create safer and more vibrant neighborhoods.”