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Lansing Police Department hosts 2022 National Night Out at Fox Pointe

By Jennifer Yos

LANSING, Ill. (August 4, 2022) – The first Tuesday of every August, police departments throughout the nation host National Night Out events in an effort to improve police and community relations for crime prevention. The Lansing Police Department, with the help of several volunteers and the donations of local sponsors, hosted their own special National Night Out event at Fox Pointe.

“Why are we here tonight?” Lansing Police Chief Al Phillips asked the crowd. “The big reason we are here is to bring our community together. National Night Out against crime is about working together with our community and our police department to try and reduce crime, but be closer as a community. We want you guys to get to know us, and we need to get to know you. We listen to what you have to say — and this is a great event for us to be out here — to listen, and implement the things that are going to make our community better.”

The family-oriented event included free food and drink and a variety of activities and entertainment: face painting, a dunk tank, a sledgehammer bell game, two bouncy inflatables, a children’s train, a bubble-making station, a professional magic act, a K-9 demonstration, and a free raffle with prizes for adults and children alike.

National Night Out 2022 — in photos

Mayor Patty Eidam and her husband Bud — both former Lansing police officers — were volunteer greeters, handing out Police Department freebies and raffle tickets to guests as they entered. (Photo: Jennifer Yos)
Kid n’ Play sponsored two bouncy inflatables for the event. (Photo: Jennifer Yos)
A kiddie train from Chicagomoonwalks.com ran its “track” around Fox Pointe. (Photo: Jennifer Yos)
Chief of Police Al Phillips welcomed Lansing community guests and thanked volunteers and sponsors. (Photo: Jennifer Yos)

Sgt. Scott Butler was a good sport in the dunk tank. (Photo: Jennifer Yos)
Lansing Public Library Director Lisa Korajczyk, along with staff member David Boomker, stood ready to check out books to the public. Andrew Harootunian (pictured in the background), demonstrated to children a modular music synthesizer set up in the back of the Poetry Mobile. (Photo: Jennifer Yos)
Deputy Chief Rick Slough and Lieutenant Chuck Weeden grilled hot dogs for the crowd. (Photo: Jennifer Yos)
National Night Out
The Spencer and Gonzalez families pose before the LPD’s NASQUAD — a transformed 1998 Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor — before participating in the National Night Out activities. (Photo: Jennifer Yos)
Members of the Lansing’s Human Relations Commission shared information and treats. (Photo: Jennifer Yos)
Professional magician Tim Hannig chose volunteers from the audience to help perform his “Tim, that’s amazing!” magic tricks. (Photo: Jennifer Yos)
Representatives from the Lansing Fire Department handed out treats, freebies, and information. From left: Inspector Robert Alderden, Administrative Secretary Tracey Hill, and Inspector Paul Lopez. (Photo: Jennifer Yos)
A representative from Hartgrove Behavioral Health Center was on hand to disseminate information regarding mental health care. (Photo: Jennifer Yos)
The culmination of Lansing’s National Night Out was the free raffle. Adults and children alike received tickets upon entering for a chance to win a variety of prizes sponsored by various community members and businesses. This young winner claims her prize, a new bicycle. (Photo: Jennifer Yos)
Arcadia Palace Lodge No. 765 offered information about the Masonic Fraternity and the Order of the Eastern Star of Illinois. (Photo: Jennifer Yos)
Detective Lt. Scott Bailey and Chief of Police Al Phillips were all smiles on National Night Out. (Photo: Jennifer Yos)

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Jennifer Yos
Jennifer Yos
Jennifer Yos grew up on Walter Street in Lansing with nine siblings. She attended St. Ann’s School and T.F. South, and she earned a BA in the Teaching of English from the University of Illinois, Chicago, and a MS in Education: Curriculum and Instruction from the University of St. Francis, Joliet. For 34 years she taught English, as well as Creative Writing and Drama, at Lincoln-Way High School. She dabbled in freelance journalism for the Joliet Herald News Living section. Now retired, Jennifer appreciates the opportunity to write for The Lansing Journal and is uplifted by the variety of positive people she has already met who are making a difference in Lansing.