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newlenoxpatriot.com news
the New Lenox Patriot | August 16, 2018 | 3
National Night out brings police and community together
Megan Schuller
Freelance Reporter
A young boy sat on a New
Lenox police motorcycle,
making “vroom” noises as
he reached for the handlebars
that the officer showed
him how to hold properly.
This was one of the many
interactions shared between
the community and the New
Lenox police during its National
Night Out event on
Aug. 7 in the New Lenox
Commons.
National Night Out is a
nationwide initiative that
strives to promote healthy
relationships between the
police and their communities.
Local law enforcement
volunteered their time for
National Night Out as a way
to make lasting connections
with residents.
New Lenox Chief of Police
Bob Sterba said that the
event makes a difference,
especially since “more of
a younger crowd” that attends.
“I think the most important
thing is to break down
any barriers that may exist,
be it fear or otherwise,” Sterba
said. “But the thing I like
most is the looks and smiles
in the children’s faces.”
As a family friendly
event children could sit inside
police squad cars and
honk the loud horn on the
public works truck, as they
interacted with officers who
gave tours and answered
their questions.
Ariana Hobby, of New
Lenox, brought her whole
family to the event for the
third year in a row.
“The kids just love meeting
the police officers and
seeing all the trucks,” Hobby
said. “That’s why we
come every year, they really
enjoy it.”
Hobby said that her two
children keep telling her
they want to become police
officers after attending National
Night Out. She said
it has brought a lot of good
and positive things to the
community.
“My kids are getting older
now so they enjoy it more
and they understand it a little
more too,” Hobby said.
Patrick Dalseth, also of
New Lenox, said he brought
his children to National
Night Out to teach them
about community, respect,
and kindness for each other.
“It’s important for us to
come together as a community,”
Dalseth said. “There’s
a lot of law enforcement here
and it’s good for the kids to
see the law enforcement as
a positive force in their life
rather than a negative.”
There wasn’t just lessons
for children to learn on National
Night out, there were
lessons for parents to learn,
too. The Heroin Epidemic
Relief Organization truck
was parked in the commons
and gave demonstrations of
how teens hide drugs within
a mock-up mobile teenagers
bedroom.
“As a parent of two teenageers
to learn about all of
the ways the teenagers try
to hide their addiction and
the signs to look for to help
Fares Suleman, 3, of New Lenox, makes “vroom” noises as he sits on the New Lenox Police motorcycle and pretends to
ride it Aug. 7 during National Night Out in the Village Commons. Photos by Megan Schuller/22nd Century Media
them, that was an eye opener
for me,” Dalseth said.
Samantha Fritz, 15, of
New Lenox said that the
event was not only fun but
educational, too.
“I think it’s a good thing
to come out here because
you get to experience what
the community really does
for you and how much of
an impact the police have
in our lives by keeping us
safe,” Fritz said.
Some neighboring towns
canceled their events due to
New Lenox police officers volunteered their time to greet residents and pass out items
such as cups, pencils, plastic badges, and dog tags that have the New Lenox police logo.
the inclement weather earlier
in the afternoon. New
Lenox’s National Night out
went off without a hitch as
the weather improved in the
evening.
According to Sterba, the
event and community support
has grown over the past
few years since they started
holding a National Night
Out.
“We’ve got a lot support
and a lot of thank yous from
the community tonight,”
Sterba said.
Bob Spychalski
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