Unlicensed Locksmiths

The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) is addressing a public safety issue that has been affecting more Illinoisans than ever before - the growing instances of unlicensed locksmith activity.  Certain individuals and companies are attempting to take advantage of desperate homeowners who have been locked out of their homes, or who have had to change the locks on their doors due to break-ins, fraud or other illegal activities that have compromised their security.

The IDFPR has been tracking a number of unlicensed locksmith complaints.  In doing so the Department has discovered that any identifiable address for these unlicensed businesses is sometimes located in another state, and that the phone number that customers may call is, in fact, a phone switch answered in another city or state.  When located, these unlicensed businesses simply change their name, move to a new address, or request a new telephone number from a local phone company.

While the law does not require a licensee to carry on his person a copy of his license the license must be displayed at each place where business is being conducted.  Employees of a locksmith company (agency) are allowed to perform locksmith work but must carry on his person a Permanent Employee Registration Card (commonly referred to as a "blue card") issued by this Department and an identification card issued by his employer (locksmith agency) which contains a photograph of the employee, the employee's name, the name and agency license number of the employer, the employee's personal description, the signature of the employee and the date of issuance.  

In order to verify that an individual holds a license as a locksmith or is a properly registered employee of a Locksmith Agency or if a company is a licensed Locksmith Agency the Department maintains an up to date license look up feature on its web site at www.IDFPR.com.   Citizen inquiries can be made by accessing this website or by calling (217) 782-8556.  

Traffic Safety Challenge Award

The Traffic Safety Challenge, coordinated by the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police Traffic Committee and the International Association of Chiefs of Police, recognizes police departments, sheriff's agencies, and other law enforcement entities in the state for exemplary traffic safety and enforcement programs.  The traffic safety challenge program targets three major traffic safety priorities: speeding, impaired driving (DUI) and occupant protection.  This challenge program is open to all Police Departments in the United States.  The "Challenge" is to address traffic safety issues through written policies, officer training, public information and education and enforcement.  Agencies must also rate the effectiveness of their efforts.  Agencies that wish to compete in the program submit an application with the required information, and the applications are reviewed by a team of judges, who then assign a final rating.  The top three agencies in each category (based on agency size and type) are recognized at an awards ceremony.  The program is supported largely through a grant from the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), and is also supported by corporate sponsors who donate products as well as monetary donations to help offset the cost of the prize awards.

We received notification by the International Association of Chiefs of Police that we were the recipients of a second place award in our category.  In addition to this second place award, we have been named as the recipient of the International Association of Chiefs of Police "Clayton J. Hall Memorial Award," which recognizes the "best of the best" in highway safety and traffic enforcement in North America.  This special award honors the memory of Clayton J. Hall, former Director, Police Traffic Services, for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration of the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT).  Mr. Hall was a highway safety leader who helped develop the National Law Enforcement Challenge (formerly known as the Chief's Challenge) concept and many other innovative traffic safety programs during his life.  The Clayton J. Hall Memorial Award is presented annually to the law enforcement agency that best represents what a comprehensive traffic safety program should be.  All agencies in the Law Enforcement Challenge are considered for this award.

The department was recognized at the annual International Association of chiefs of Police conference in Boston, MA on October 17, 2006.

We also were the recipients of a third place award in the municipal 51-100 sworn officer category.  The department was recognized for this accomplishment at the Illinois Chiefs Summer Conference on August 3, 2006.  

All of the officers of the department take traffic safety very seriously and strive to make the roadways of Park Ridge as safe as possible.  Special recognition is given to the department's Traffic Section, especially Commander Louis Jogmen, Sergeant Eric Hilderbrant and Officer Thomas Rechlicz.  These officers were the lead officers on the project.  The department will continue to be very proactive in traffic safety and enforcement programs.  

National Night Out

We at the Park Ridge Police Department were very excited to share with you our second National Night Out (NNO) program which was held on August 7, 2007 in Hodges Park (in front of City Hall). NNO is a nationwide program held each year. The event is designed to:

Some of the events were:

Participating in NNO provided us with an excellent opportunity to strengthen our already excellent relationship with the community and to again work closely with civic groups such as Teens Organized for Youth Service (TOFYS), Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and Students Against Drunk Driving (SADD) and the local school districts. It also gave these groups a forum where they can distribute valuable information about local crime prevention programs or other information that may prove useful to our citizens. We hope our residents came out to learn more about crime prevention programs in our community and had some fun. In addition, as a sign of unity against crime, residents were encouraged to turn their porch lights on for the entire evening of the 7th.

To learn more about National Night Out, visit www.nationalnightout.org

C.A.L.E.A. Re-Accreditation

The City of Park Ridge and the Police Department received it's fourth re-accreditation award from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (C.A.L.E.A.) on March 17, 2007 in Greensboro, North Carolina.

The police department received it's initial accreditation award in March of 1993.  It was the 21st police agency in Illinois to be accredited.  Currently the department complies with over 400 law enforcement standards pertaining to policies, procedures, equipment and personnel.  Every three years, the department undergoes an extensive on-site assessment performed by a team of C.A.L.E.A. assessors.  

Chief Caudill was very proud of the effort and determination of all the Police Department members in achieving this prestigious award.  It signifies their dedication to professional, effective and efficient public service in the law enforcement field.  

New Curfew Exceptions

New exceptions to the current curfew ordinance, 14-12-1, have been added.  The current curfew laws state that any minor under the age of 18 cannot be at any public place, street, building or highway between: 

The exceptions for minors are as follows:

Police officers can make reasonable inquiries to determine whether any of the above exceptions apply.  Officers shall issue a citation or make an arrest for curfew only if he/she has reasonable grounds to believe that the child has violated curfew.  

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Last Modified: March 28, 2008