Seniors, police share Bingo at park district
HUNTLEY — Huntley area senior citizens sat at tables, with Bingo cards at hand, ready for the readying of the numbers.
Huntley Police Chief Robert Porter was the guest Bingo caller to start the event. Bingo is offered the first Tuesday of the month at Huntley Park District’s cafeteria. This election day, “Coffee with a Cop” preceded the Bingo fun.
“We’re very strong on community outreach and they generate a lot of positive feedback,” Porter said. He was joined by Deputy Chief Amy Williams and Community Resource Officer Jerry Keepler.
“Huntley is a special community,” Porter said in remarks. “I remember during the civil unrest nationally a few years ago, during National Night Out, there was a parade at Sun City and it was great to see all the support.”
Porter said he has been a police officer for 36 years, the last eight in Huntley as chief. Prior to Huntley, he was an officer, Downers Grove Police Department. The HPD has 40 sworn officers, and is a nationally accredited department.
HPD’s community outreach events coming up include the rescheduled “Don’t Be Fooled by a Disability” 5K event May 6 at Huntley Town Square, starting with a Torch Lighting at 8:50, then the 5K at 9 a.m. Also, there will be a “Cop on Top” of the roof on May 19 at Huntley Dunkin locations. Both events benefit Illinois Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch Run.
The Bingo fun was organized by Jim Sieczowski and Evelyn Likens. “We’ve done it for about 10 years, at first it was from a Senior Citizens Club but then we kind of took it over,” Sieczowski said.
The police department leaders discussed concerns that the seniors had as well as services such as Neighbors By Ring. This is an App that sends real-time crime and safety notifications directly to your phone. “The Huntley Police Department has joined the Neighbors App to share alerts, comment on local issues and help make our communities safer for everyone,” according to a flier.
Scam alerts including how to protect yourself and others from Social Security-related scams was also provided.
People should be concerned if they receive a call, text or email which: threatens to suspend your SSA number, even if they have part or all of your SSA number; warns of arrest or legal action; demands or requests immediate payment; requires payment by gift card, prepaid debit card, internet currently, or by mailing cash and pressures you for personal information. If this happens, recommended responses by the Social Security Administration are: try to stay calm; hang up or ignore it and report Social Security Scams to the SSA Office of the Inspector General (OIG).
