Lake Forest police officers and firefighters will compete for chili bragging rights on Nov. 7 at the Lake Forest Club.

The club's inaugural Police vs. Fire Chili Competition runs from noon to 2 p.m. at 554 N. Westmoreland Road, according to a post on the city's Lake Forest Love blog. The event is open to the public.

The winning department takes home an inaugural trophy and earns a spot on the Lake Forest Club's menu for the rest of November. Attendees help pick the winner.

Beyond the chili, the event doubles as a community open house. Visitors can get an up-close look at police vehicles, fire trucks and equipment, watch a police drone demonstration and meet officers and firefighters from both departments.

Officer Ashley Molinelli and her new K9 partner Buzz, a German Shepherd, will also make their first public appearance together for a demonstration. Comfort Dog Winston will be on hand.

Buzz's debut comes as the Lake Forest Police Department's K9 unit ramps back up after going dormant when K9 Chase retired in 2024. As we reported Sept. 29, Molinelli was paired with Buzz after submitting a resume and letter of interest and completing formal interviews with LFPD administration.

The duo has been working through eight weeks of intensive training in obedience, narcotics detection and tracking. Molinelli said she expects the team to be street-ready by mid-November, meaning the Nov. 7 appearance comes while Buzz is still completing certification.

"I absolutely love dogs … [and] I love proactive police work," Molinelli said in the city's Instagram announcement of the K9 program. "I think it's the best way to combine the two."

Once certified, Molinelli and Buzz will handle narcotics detection, tracking, searches and apprehension across the city. The pair must also log at least 16 training hours each month.

Molinelli joined the Lake Forest Police Department in 2019 and has spent her career on patrol. She said fully learning to read Buzz's behavioral cues will take about two years.

For more information about the chili competition, contact Steven Mendes, the Lake Forest Club's member relations manager, at [email protected].