Click on a Division to get a description

 

Investigations Division

Tactical Section 

Part-time Social Worker 

School Resource Officer

General Services Division

 

 

 

Investigations Division

The Investigations Division is comprised of four detectives, two Juvenile officers, two Tactical officers, two School Resource officers and one part-time social worker. The Investigations Division conducts compliance checks on liquor and tobacco, and in 2008 will begin inspecting establishments that offer massage therapy to the public. Additionally, the division continues to pursue asset and vehicle forfeitures whenever possible. 

During the last year, the Tactical officers made several contacts in and out of the community to help suppress the use of drugs in Park Ridge. After gathering intelligence on illegal activity, the tactical officers made several arrests including possession of marijuana, heroin, cocaine, mushrooms and other illegal controlled substances with a street value of approximately $30,000 with over $125,000 in U.S.C. seized in the drug arrests. 

The School Resource Officer Program is a well-established program which provides each of the high schools with a full time juvenile officer during the school year. Each officer handles law enforcement related problems, teaches classes and acts as a liaison between the school and the police department. 

SRO’s must use their discretion when handling incidents at the school. Although it is not a priority, arrests are sometimes necessary when other options or school consequences are not appropriate. During 2007, approximately 20 arrests were made at both high schools including drug possession, battery, theft, trespass and alcohol related offenses. 

 

Tactical Section 

During the last year, the Tactical Section has made several contacts in and out of the community to help suppress the use of drugs in Park Ridge. These contacts have been signing up new informants, and meeting new contacts that have knowledge of the illegal drugs. After gathering intelligence on illegal activity, the tactical officers made several arrests including possession of marijuana, heroin, cocaine, mushrooms and other illegal controlled substances with a street value of approximately $30,000 with over $125,000 in U.S.C. seized in the drug arrests.

Part-time Social Worker 

The department’s part-time social worker accepts referrals from police staff, professionals in the community, family and friends of potential clients as well as the clients themselves. The social worker provides emergency and continuing social services beyond the expertise of a police officer and serves as the mental health specialist on the law enforcement team to increase the sensitivity to, and understanding of, social problems.

 

School Resource Officer 

This is a well-established program which provides each of the high schools with a full time juvenile officer during the school year. Each officer handles law enforcement related problems, teaches classes and acts as a liaison between the school and the police department. 

SRO’s must use their discretion when handling incidents at the school. Although it is not a priority, arrests are sometimes necessary when other options or school consequences are not appropriate. During 2007, approximately 20 arrests were made at both high schools including drug possession, battery, theft, trespass and alcohol related offenses.

   

General Services Division

The General Services Division includes Police Administration, Records Section, Community Services Section, Property Section, Parking Enforcement, School Crossing Guards, Accreditation Process and clerical staff.

Community Services

The department has ten Community Service Officers, two Parking Enforcement Officers, and five part-time Info Techs. This group is the backbone of the department, handling their day-to-day assignments as well as assisting the Police, Fire and Public Works departments with various additional duties. Community Service Officers and our part-time Info Techs man the non-emergency police desk twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. The CSO Coordinator is the Quartermaster for the sworn officers. Uniforms for new officers are purchased, as well as any uniform items officers may need throughout the year. 

Some other specific duties handled by this department include:   The installation of child safety seats; Taxi inspection;  Producing the licensing for each taxi cab;         Fingerprinting of residents (by appointment only);  Assisting with the adjudication process;  Working with the City in issuing solicitor licenses; The collection of meters (assisting Public Works);  In the event of a crash or fire, the Community Service Officers and Parking Enforcement Officers assist with traffic control; Every time it snows at least two inches, Public Works will call a Snow Command, and all CSO’s and PEO’s come in (any time/day or night) and will ticket and arrange for vehicles to be towed so that the streets can be plowed and cleared for our residents. 

Our Community Service Officers and Parking Enforcement Officers also work many special events held by the City such as runs,  parades, open houses, National Night Out and many other festivities.

Additionally, the Parking Enforcement Officers work six days a week, patrolling the parking areas of town and looking for ticket scofflaws. 

As you can see, this is a vital division of the department that is an extremely important component to the entire police department and other city departments as well.

Accreditation

The Park Ridge Police Department has been an accredited department since 1993. It is the responsibility of the officer working in the accreditation department to ensure that all policies and procedures meet or exceed applicable Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement C.A.L.E.A. Standards.

Additional responsibilities of the Accreditation Officer include Community Relations’ efforts to coordinate officers from various components of the department to promote their areas of expertise with community members, groups and organizations; organize and participate in public speaking engagements, tours, health fairs, child identification presentations; and schedule and address community groups and other citizens with reference to specific crimes and areas of public interest.

Crossing Guards

In 2007/08 the City of Park Ridge added five new corners to be staffed with crossing guards; Hamlin & Elm, Albion & Prospect, Western & Crescent, Touhy & Western and Belle Plaine & Engel. This brings the total number of dedicated crossing guards to 33 – five of which are reserve guards. On days when the guards are unable to staff their corner, a Community Service Officer takes their place, ensuring coverage for all of our children at all times.