Halloween is historically a night of tricks and treats for many, but it can also bring out a criminal element. The Junction City Police Department will have several officers patrolling the streets during tonight’s Halloween festivities.

“We’re going to have some extra patrols out, some of our detectives are going to be out in unmarked cars and then we have some other officers that are going to be out and about; some of the officers will be driving around with their lights on…so it lets people know that we’re out in the neighborhood,” said JCPD Community Involvement Unit Captain Chuck Leithoff.

Leithoff said that additionally, parents shouldn’t send their trick-or-treaters out alone.

“We ask the parents to go with the children of course…to make sure that the kids are aware, they’re alert and watching what they’re doing,” said Leithoff.

Halloween costumes should also be easily visible, whether they are light in color or the child is wearing some type of reflective clothing; parents should also make sure that children can see properly if wearing a mask.

Leithoff said that drivers should also be mindful of excitable children. “We caution the drivers to because the little ones are excited and anxious to get out there and go trick-or-treating so we really caution the drivers to slow down in those neighborhoods and just be really, really cautious.”

As always parents should check all candy before consumption, and throw away anything that has been tampered with or opened.

As for creepy clowns in Junction City?

“Fortunately, in Junction City we haven’t had any of those [creepy clown sightings] this year, but our guys are aware of it and we’re sensitive to that and we’ll keep an eye on it…there’s no law against dressing up as a clown, if that’s what they want to do, but it can become a problem if they make [unlawful] contact or threaten or do something along those lines,” said Leithoff. “We’re aware of what’s going on and we’ll be vigilant.”