Manhattan’s Community Public Safety Night brought out a huge crowd of families eager to learn more about the people and services committed to keeping the town safe.
Everyone involved in making Manhattan one of the safest towns in Illinois was there with a smile, ready to answer questions, educate the community, and establish rapport with residents.
“It’s really cool that they do this, and the kids all love it. They don’t need to worry when they see them. They talk about what they do, and then the kids are aware,” Manhattan resident Katie Barki said. She brought her son, Henry, who was learning about the fire district while she stood close by.
Having kids and public safety personnel interact in a positive environment, when there isn’t an emergency, is invaluable. If there actually is an emergency, kids won’t be scared to go to police officers or fire personnel. They also had the opportunity to meet some of the faces behind the 9-1-1 dispatch center and learn what to say if they need to call 9-1-1.
“This is such a great event. It raises awareness for kids, and it’s amazing what they retain,” Colleen Gottardo said. She attended the event with her three kids, Stella – seven, Emilia – five, and Dominic – two.
The Manhattan Police Department not only had cruisers out for kids to explore and climb in, but the beloved K-9 Apollo was there and even showed off his ability to locate a weapon in a field.
Officer William Garrison and Sgt. James Redlich demonstrated the capabilities of the department’s 30T police drone, which was approved for purchase in December 2024. The large crowd that gathered to watch the public safety demonstrations had their eyes fixed on the sky, as the drone flew high above and delivered a water bottle to a target.
Sgt. James Redlich and the 30T police drone. -Photo by Stephanie Irvine.
There are three FAA-certified drone pilot operators within the police department. The drone has police lights, and a cruiser is outfitted with a large TV screen in the trunk of the vehicle to show drone operators what the drone sees.
Police Chief Ryan Gulli explained the drone has been an incredible resource, not just in Manhattan, but in neighboring communities for mutual aid law enforcement calls, as well. Recently, the drone was called out to assist the Frankfort Police on two separate calls, one to help with locating a wounded driver who had been ejected from a vehicle following a crash, and another time to assist in the search for a lost person.
Additionally, the crowd was able to interact with the Manhattan Fire Protection District, Will County Sheriff, Laraway Communications 9-1-1 Dispatch, Manhattan’s Public Works Department, and even the FBI.
The Hidden in Plain Sight trailer was there with Narcan, giving parents the ability to see just how easy it is for teens to obscure drug use.
The Village’s Public Works staff was out with equipment. They keep roads and streets clear and free of hazards, a thankless job that has to get done, especially in the winter plow season. Their staff assisted kids climbing on top of various public works equipment, while answering questions and interacting with the public.
At every turn, there was something to see, do, and experience. From the parking lot to the EMA property to inside the fire station, there were vendors and safety personnel ready to interact.
Andrea and Dillon Popovich brought out their family, with their young son Andrew, age three, donning a plastic firefighting hat and giving CPR to a dummy.
Despite the sweltering summer temps, there was plenty to keep visitors cool. Free refreshments, the popular Kona Ice truck, and MFPD’s water ball game kept visitors from overheating.
It wasn’t just the ambient temps that were hot – MFPD’s sprinkler demonstration drew a massive crowd, showing just how fast a room can go up in flames when unsprinklered. The home fire timeline gave a sobering reminder of how fast fire spreads.
It indicated that based on national averages, a flashover fire can occur in just three-to-five minutes with no sprinklers, which the crowd was able to observe in just a couple of minutes in real time.
The crowd shielded their faces and stepped back from the heat as the demonstration trailer flashed over and flames curled around the top of it. The fire district emphasized how essential sprinkler systems can be in saving lives and property.
Deputy Chief Dave Piper and Fire and Life Safety Educator Jackie Palkovitz, known by many of the kids as “Firefighter Jackie” from school demonstrations, engaged the crowd and the kids with a call-and-response format, while peppering in important details for all to remember.
“What about toys, do we go back inside for toys?” Piper asked the crowd after emphasizing that once getting outside away from a fire, it is critical not to go back in, even for pets or loved ones.
The crowd yelled “NO!” except for one little boy who asked if he could go back if it were his favorite toy. Piper took the time to talk with the little boy and told him, “You tell us, and we’ll try and save them for you,” emphasizing that it’s not safe, but firefighters have special gear and equipment that protect them.
Their presentation reminded everyone about the necessity of smoke detectors – and of changing the batteries with the clock change. They talked about what kids need to do if there is a fire, like getting low and crawling instead of standing up and running to the nearest exit.
“I’m proud to continue this strong partnership with the Manhattan Fire Protection District and EMA to educate and interact with residents. I’m very happy the local units of government are all able to work together so well – we even got the FBI out here!” Gulli said.
Fire Chief Steve Malone echoed Gulli’s sentiments and complemented the collaboration among the different agencies, noting that each year for the last nine years, the event has only grown and improved.
“I’m very grateful for our vendors, volunteers, and everyone who helped, and the citizens for coming out to give us an opportunity to educate them on what and how we do things. It’s another successful year!” Malone said.
It indeed appeared to be a success, as the event, which ran from 6 to 8 p.m. on July 25, still was going strong, with smiling kids playing waterball as personnel started picking up after the demonstrations wrapped up.
Stephanie Irvine is a freelance reporter.