Skokie, Morton Grove police hosted National Night Out.

Skokie and Morton Grove, among many other suburbs, held national evening events on Aug. 2 to welcome residents and families. National Night, hosted by the National City Watch Association and hosted by many police departments across the country, it is designed to allow police and residents to meet each other in a relaxed, community-oriented environment.

The Skokie and Morton Grove events were held outdoors: Skokie’s at Oakton Park and Morton Grove’s outside Harrer Park. Both featured children’s games and activities, bounce houses, food, giveaways, demonstrations and information. Everything was free for residents.

Tam Tang, left, and Yvette Tang of Morton Grove talk with Cindy Pechter, administrative specialist for the Skokie Police Department, at Skokie’s National Night Out Aug. 2 in Oakton Park. (Pam DeFiglio/Pioneer Press)

Skokie police gave away 100 backpacks for kids heading back to school in a couple of weeks, said Skokie police Sgt. John Oakley.

“We’re also trying to get people to sign up for notifications on their phones for things like severe weather, evacuation orders or major police incidents,” he said. “For example, we had a couple of serious accidents and had to close roads for several hours. If there’s a major police incident, notifications can tell people to stay out of the area.”

Ray Catala, a community service officer with the Skokie Police Department, advises attendees. how to download safety and emergency alerts to your phones at the Skokie Police National Night Out on August 2 in Oakton Park. (Pam DeFiglio/Pioneer Press)

The town’s firefighters also participated. In Morton Grove, children could climb aboard a fire truck while a firefighter pointed out various features; in Skokie, a firefighter helped kids shoot real water at a simulated fire.

Morton Grove Police Chief Mike Simo took a microphone at the Morton Grove event to welcome attendees and kick off a raffle, which included giveaways of several bicycles.

An Illinois National Guard unit from the General Jones Armory on Chicago’s South Side brought an M-777 howitzer to the Skokie event, with guardsmen allowing people to take selfies in front of it.

Mazhar Khan, left, a fire and police commissioner, and Mike Simkins, chairman of the fire and police commission, welcome attendees to Morton Grove’s National Night Out event Aug. 2 outside the Morton Grove Civic Center. (Pam DeFiglio/Pioneer Press)

Morton Grove Village Engineer Chris Tomich and Morton Grove Fire Department Fire Prevention Coordinator Rich Dobrowski man a booth at Morton Grove’s National Night Out on Aug. 2. (Pam DeFiglio/Pioneer Press)

Robert Libet, who was expected to be named deputy chief, and Brian Baker, chief of the Skokie Police Department, greeted attendees at the department’s National Night Out, a community-oriented event on Aug. 2. (Pam DeFiglio/Pioneer Press)

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