As Berwyn police officers, firefighters, politicians and families gathered in the baseball field north of St. Mary Celle July 21 a young boy on a bicycle stopped to look and asked out loud, “What’s going on?”
Fire trucks had lined the streets and officers on bicycles stood along the baseball field’s dugout.
Photographers stood in the middle of Euclid Avenue in anticipation of what was about to occur.
What was going on was the first of several displays of authority and community cohesion. Each year, the city hosts “Take Back the Night Rallies” prior to its participation in a national event known as the Night Out Against Crime.
Traditionally, Berwyn’s Night Out Against Crime rally attracts record numbers of people.
“(Last year), we were No. 1 in the State of Illinois, 12th in Category Three (in the nation). They had over 7,000 attendees involved,” said Sandy Brennan of the Berwyn Development Corp., which organizes the rallies for the city.
Emergency lights spun and signal horns sounded as the rally attendees marched north on Euclid Avenue July 21. The city’s Police Explorer’s — young men and women interested in a future in law enforcement — lead the way.
At the tail-end of the march walked Berwyn Police Chief Jim Ritz.
“Anything you do that gets the community involved to build a relationship where they’re the eyes and ears (makes an impact),” Ritz said.
Mayor Robert Lovero said the rallies’ tradition of attracting large numbers is an example of the community’s concern for safety.
“I think most people that live here have an interest in keeping our community safe for their kids and families,” Lovero said.
The mayor said it is difficult to gauge the impact the rallies have on the bad guys, criminals and gang members.
“I believe they notice, that’s the whole idea.” But the community also notices. That, Lovero said, is also the idea.
