ParkTalk Podcast: Situational Awareness and Staying Safe

Thursday, May 8, 2025

Episode Description:

With warm weather in the forecast and bigger crowds out at parks and events, it is important to be aware of your surroundings in case of an emergency. Park Police Chief Steve Schindlbeck and RJM Strategy President Ray McGury join the ParkTalk Podcast to remind residents in and outside of Naperville how to stay safe and situationally aware in public.

Quotes from the Episode:

Can you explain what it means to be situationally aware?

Unfortunately, we are the most situationally unaware society. It’s partly because of electronics. Situational awareness is just taking in what is around you. We all mess up but try to be a little better at that – when you pull up to a stop light or walk into a store. Knowing how to get out of a place and know where your exits are at. – Ray McGury

What is the purpose of the “Lock It or Lose It” campaign?

The “Lock It or Lost It” program is targeted to people who feel comfortable leaving their cars unlocked. Unfortunately, there are groups of people that spend their day driving to parking lots, in and around Naperville, that simply try (opening) car doors. Its incredible the number of cars that are left unlocked. People like to leave valuables in plain sight. We encourage people to take their valuables and hide them in the trunk or under the seat. – Chief Steve Schindlbeck

How and when should people reach out to our Park Police?

I want people to understand that there is never going to be an instance where they’re bothering us. If you want to walk up to an officer and have a conversation with them, then do that. And if you have some concerns about anything that may be going on in the park and you want to get their opinion of it, they’ll certainly share what they think with you. Don’t ever think you’re bothering us. We subscribe to the theory “if you see something, we would like you to say something.”

Park Police Non-Emergency Phone Number: (630) 601-0925