Palos Park PD Offers Week Of Public Safety Seminars, Touch A Truck For National Night Out

PALOS PARK, IL — Palos Park police are planning a week of public safety events in honor of National Night Out Against Crime, which this year falls on Tuesday, Aug. 5.

The police department will showcase its anti-crime partnerships with the community, including Explorer Cadets, Citizens on Patrol (COPS)l, “You Are Not Alone” and Citizens Emergency Response Team (CERT).

“We have to come up with different approaches to National Night Out,” said Chief Joe Miller, of the Palos Park Police Department. “We’re a small community. We can’t compete with someone jumping out of a helicopter.”

Coffee with the Chief — 7 p.m., Aug. 1, Palos Park Police Department, 8999 W. 123rd St.

Residents can stop in and chat with the chief. It’s a great way to get an update on what’s going on in the department and ask questions. Relationships of mutual trust between police agencies and the communities they serve are critical to maintaining public safety and effective policing. Palos Park police rely on the cooperation of community members’ willingness to get involved.

Palos Park PD/Palos Fire District “Touch a Truck” event — August 5th @ 3pm - 4pm on the Village Green, 8901 W. 123rd St.

Come check out and explore a police car, ambulance and fire truck.

Palos Park Police Citizen Ride Along — Scheduled Individually

Ride-alongs with Palos Park police can be scheduled individually, giving folks a firsthand look at the realities of policing during their time in the field. Citizens witnessed various stops and incidents, each offering a unique glimpse into the unpredictable nature of law enforcement. Email jmiller@palospark.org if you would like to participate in the Police Ride-Along program. This public education program gives residents a better understanding of police operations. The Ride-Along Program serves as a mechanism to enhance transparency between police and members of the community.

Coffee with a Cop — August 6th @ 11am @ the Plush Horse, 12301 S. 86th Ave., Palos Park

Connecting, one cop, and one cup, at a time. Join us for another “Coffee with a Cop” on April 6th. No agenda, simply go in and talk to people for a cup of coffee.

Police / Community Lunch Forum — August 5th @ 12:30 p.m., Cog Hill Country Club, 12294 Archer Ave.

Mayor Nicole Milovich Walters and Palos Park Police Commissioner Dan Polk will join Palos Park police at a FREE community lunch forum, focusing on the future of public safety, and Palos Park Police Department accountability and cooperation between the stakeholders involved in keeping the community safe.

“We’d like the public to come out and talk about what they’d like to see in terms of public safety in Palos Park- matters like mental health calls, unarmed responses, body cameras, and any other concerns/questions/issues you might have,” Polk said.

Palos Park Police Host 2 Scam Awareness Sessions — August 5th @ 2pm and 6:30 p.m. , 8999 W. 123rd St.

This program kicks off Palos Park police’s fall series to help people learn more about scams and ruses targeting them or their friends. The scam awareness seminars are designed to heighten seniors' awareness of ruses and scams, financial exploitation, and how to communicate with and seek the help of law enforcement. The program will also cover tips on personal and home safety.