Park Ridge police chief says National Night Out helps build ‘social capital with the community'

Chicago Tribune

3 days ago

The Jesse White Tumblers and a 'Back to the Future' DeLorean time machine vehicle were among the attractions at National Night Out in Park Ridge.
The Aug. 5 gathering at Hodges Park was one of numerous annual NNO events nationwide – also including in nearby Morton Grove and Niles – which is billed as providing an opportunity to bring police and residents together.
Park Ridge Police Chief Bob Kampwirth told Pioneer Press that National Night Out is a good way to build a positive relationship between the police department and the community.
'This is an event that we host to connect with the community, especially the younger people, the kids. This is really an event for the kids,' Kampwirth said. 'It is just to get people together and have a nice, fun event and show the kids before they go back to school.'
Kampwirth said National Night Out helps children see the police are there to offer assistance or advice.
'If they need help or they have questions, we want to make them feel comfortable. We don't want them to be afraid of us,' Kampwirth said. 'We want to make sure that we're building social capital with the community and let them know that we care about them.'
Kampwirth said the community helps to lift police officers' spirits.
'The appreciation that we're seeing from the community and the kids, that is tremendous. If the parents like us, the kids are going to like us because they look up to their parents,' Kampwirth said.
The event included a trackless train, children's games and activities with Brian Wismer Entertainment, magician Amazing Adamz, Chicago Bears mascot Staley, face painting and a mobile gaming truck.
National Night Out also featured a mechanical bull, a Blues Brothers mobile, food, giveaways and a Park Ridge police officer as a disc jockey.
Park Ridge resident Veronica Cross told Pioneer Press she attended the event because it fosters a relationship between children and the police, who are also present at events including 'Concerts in the Park' and 'Taste of Park Ridge.'
'The kids feel pretty comfortable around them, which I think is a pretty important thing so (kids) see them as a good role as opposed to a scary, bad role,' said Cross, who was at the event with her family including her daughter Caroline Cross, 8.
Park Ridge Police Department Executive Officer Tom Gadomski told Pioneer Press that a popular National Night Out spot featured Park Ridge bike shop Wheel & Sprocket along with one of the city's bicycle officers, who talked about new city regulations for e-bikes and electric scooters.
'Everybody wants to know about them and the different classifications,' Gadomski said. 'Ask us about it. We'll tell you so it's our way of reaching out and just getting to know the community and just being approachable.'
Gadomski mentioned other highlights of the night, including a new inflatable rodeo, Lin-Mar Towing from Morton Grove returning with their biggest trucks to raise the flag and Wayne Messmer, who returned to sing the national anthem, being introduced with the Chicago Bulls theme song and smoke.
'It's basically a giant block party that we're trying to have for the community. National Night Out is celebrated in so many different ways,' Gadomski said.
Park Ridge officials state on the city's website that National Night Out in the north suburb is designed to enhance the relationship between neighbors and law enforcement while bringing back a true sense of community.
Mayor Marty Maloney told Pioneer Press that the event, which has grown every year, offers police officers a chance to interact with the community in a relaxed setting as opposed to a heightened situation such as an emergency or a traffic stop.
'We're at a unique point in the country where some of the relationships between the general public and law enforcement may not be perfect,' Maloney said. 'I think it's really important to give everyone a chance to interact in this type of an environment.'
Maloney, who described Park Ridge as a cross between the fictional Mayberry town in the TV sitcom 'The Andy Griffith Show' and the fictional Bedford Falls from the film 'It's a Wonderful Life,' said the city's police officers invest in relationships with the community through events.
Park Ridge resident Alissa Pump told Pioneer Press she attended National Night Out for a second year to support the community and the effort to make children feel more comfortable that a police officer can help them in any situation.
'Just the awareness and the positive impact police and public safety has around the community, I think they do a great job,' said Pump, who participated with her family, including her 2-year-old son Johnny.