Park Ridge police utilize new drone to enhance security at food festival

PARK RIDGE, Ill. - As the Taste of Park Ridge kicked off Thursday morning, law enforcement found a high-tech ally in their efforts to ensure safety at the popular suburban street festival.

The Park Ridge Police Department debuted its drone surveillance, aiming to enhance crowd protection during the three-day event, which features a mix of entertainment, food offerings, and family activities.

"We just got it this year, so this will be the first event we're using it at," said Chief Bob Kampwirth. "We thought about events and what we could use it for and how it would enhance our ability to provide more safety and security for people." 

The chief said the tool is not meant to eavesdrop or record people but allow them a bird's eye view of even the parking lots and traffic around the event.

"We can monitor the event in real-time, and we can watch for patterns in pedestrian patterns, see where people are moving to. We can see on rooftops around here," said the chief.

"It makes me feel safe, especially bringing my son here. It’s a crazy world out there, so I actually love the idea," said Aylin, who attended the festival with her son.

"The world is changing so it’s not what it used to be and things are getting a little out of hand, so it’s what you do you got to do," said festival-goer Joe.

In addition to aerial monitoring, officers will be stationed strategically, including on rooftops overlooking the festival grounds – a practice the department has maintained in recent years.

The festival, which began at 11 a.m. Thursday and runs through Saturday night, draws large crowds with its 20 diverse food and beverage options alongside free entertainment.

Attendees can expect to encounter increased police presence, with officers patrolling in pairs and enhanced security measures at entry points to prevent unauthorized vehicle access.

The festivities conclude at 10:30 p.m. Thursday and 11 p.m. on both Friday and Saturday.