Queen Elsa and Spider-Man won’t be the only ones out on the street this Halloween. The Pleasantville Police Department plans to have extra manpower present so trick-or-treaters and adults can celebrate safely.
According to Police Chief Erik Grutzner, his department has always been highly visible and approachable on Halloween, especially around Grove Street and Great Oak Lane.
“[That] neighborhood has adopted Halloween as their own. The houses are really well-decorated, and most of the kids in town head there for at least part of the night,” he said. “They must spend hundreds of dollars per house on candy alone. There is a great community atmosphere, and we give it a lot of extra attention.”
However, Grutzner noted that if the department only focuses on one area, “people will take liberties,” and possibly cover the rest of the village with toilet paper or shaving cream. Therefore, officers will monitor other parts of the village in cars, on bikes, and on foot.
With Halloween on a Thursday this year, Grutzner said there will also be increased patrols in the downtown area.
“We are expecting more people from out of town to come and enjoy our nightlife. Halloween is a big holiday for adults, too,” he said. “We will have extra officers in the area of the bars and restaurants, and we believe people have every right and reason to feel safe to come celebrate in Pleasantville.”
Although CBS News reports that there tends to be more crime on Halloween, these residents find the community remarkably safe on the holiday:
“I have seen the police drive by, which is a good thing,” Rebecca Almogabar, a resident of 24 years, said. “I’ve never felt like I’ve had anything to worry about. I don’t feel threatened or worried, and I am generally by myself when I give out candy.”
“[The officers] probably patrol the streets until midnight or more,” Lisa Dolce said. “I’ve been here for over 20 years and I’ve had no issues with my kids trick-or-treating.”
“[The officers] do a great job and they do keep the town very safe,” Cameron Demaree, a resident of 20 years, said. “I’ve never experienced any robberies or crimes on Halloween, besides kids throwing eggs.”
“[The officers] are definitely more present on certain streets because that’s where all the kids seem to congregate,” Robert Uguccioni, a resident of 30 years, said. “They do go over near the schools, too, to make sure there isn’t any kind of mischief going on over there. [But] I don’t think I feel any safer on Halloween, just because any time of year doesn’t bother me at all.”
While Grutzner said that Halloween is a great opportunity for the department to interact with residents, specifically the kids, he emphasized that people need to be vigilant about their surroundings.
“We always ask that people be careful and safety-conscious, especially as dusk turns to evening and it gets harder for little ones to see, and be seen, in costumes,” he said. “And as always, we depend upon the public to report anything suspicious so we can act on it as quickly as possible.”