UNITS

Commendations

Patrol Division

The Patrol Division falls under the command of the Operations Captain. The Division is the largest and most visible element of the Police Department. Its members, mostly uniformed officers, patrol the City’s streets around the clock. Under the direct supervision of a Patrol Lieutenant or Sergeant, the Patrol Officers function as the eyes and ears of the Police Department. They in partnership with our community and  other city, township, state, and federal agencies to enhance the quality of life for the citizens it serves.

The City is divided into two primary patrol areas, or beats, that are supplemented by additional sub-beats. Officers with specialized training  based on emerging crime trends and patterns provide a strategic response to effectively prevent and detect crime and to apprehend and prosecute criminals.

The Patrol Officer is the initial responder to the 15,000+ police service calls peryear ranging from violent crime to house watches. The Patrol Division is further responsible for vehicle and pedestrian traffic, law enforcement, and crash investigation. In addition, utilizing crash data, officers monitor specific sites with high crash rates, address traffic-related complaints (speeding, traffic light violations, etc.) and conduct selective enforcement in high pedestrian traffic areas such as schools and parks.

The Patrol Division is staffed twenty-four hours a day and broken down into three primary patrol shifts or watches, with additional power cars and specialty cars assigned during peak hours to maximize coverage.

Specialization Officers are selected and trained from the patrol ranks to supplement the overall operation of the Division. These sub units include the Bicycle Patrol, Child Seat Safety Program, D.A.R.E., Evidence Technician Program, Field Training Officer Program, and Canine Program.

Our average daily calls for service are consistent each day of the week, and our department’s peak hours of service calls are often between 3:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. A Patrol Lieutenant or Sergeant in the capacity of Watch Commander oversees the daily operations of the watches and is available to explain police operations and mediate citizen complaints or inquires. The Watch Commander can be reached by calling the Police Administrative Desk at (708) 924-7300.   

Illinois Public Pension Fund Association

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Cook County Assistant States Attorney office