Park Ridge
Citizens Patrol
The Citizens Patrol is a
group of volunteers who have provided valuable assistance to the police, fire
and other city departments for over 27 years. The Citizens Patrol members act as
additional “eyes and ears” for the community to watch for criminal activity
and other suspicious circumstances. They also assist the City by guarding downed
electrical wires, directing traffic during emergency situations and diverting
traffic around malfunctioning railroad crossing gates.
The Park Ridge Citizens
Patrol is starting their 28th year of service to the City of Park Ridge.
Their total membership
consists of twenty-two active men and women and eleven retired. The members
volunteered 497 hours and drove 2331 miles in 2006. The patrol was inactive for
over two months in 2006 due to insurance issues. They patrol every other week
and can be counted on day or night.
The Citizens Patrol
assisted and supported the department with the following events: Anelise’s
Run, Taste of Park Ridge, Park Ridge Charity Classic, Park Ridge Senior
Olympics, National Night Out, Fire Department Open House, Merchants Open House,
the Carnival and various call outs throughout the year.
Additionally, the Patrol
is working on improving the updated Bi-Laws and Web page.
For 2007, the Citizens
Patrol looks forward to serving the City of Park Ridge by adding new members, a
return to patrolling on Saturday evenings along with adding a day patrol on
Saturdays.
A member must be at least 25 years of age, live or work in Park Ridge and have a good background. To contact the Patrol, call 847-318-5454, e-mail us at Prcpatrol@aol.com, or visit us on the web at www.park-ridge.il.us/patrol .
T.O.F.Y.S. - Teens Organized For Youth Services
TOFYS is a youth group which advises the Park Ridge Youth Commission in its planning of youth programs and activities for youth in the community.
Any high school student who is a resident of Park Ridge or attends a Park Ridge High School may become a member of TOFYS. The group meets every regularly. Meetings are informal with members discussing upcoming events, current youth issues or planning additional service projects.For more information, visit their website at www.tofys.org
The P.A.C.T. Program
The P.A.C.T. program, (Police and Community Together), is a community policing initiative spearheaded to provide direct and quick response to a variety of issues throughout the City of Park Ridge. In a short time the effectiveness of this program can be measured by a number of successes:
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PACT members have attended “town hall” meetings held in the 4th and 7th aldermanic wards. These meetings have enabled citizens the opportunity to ask questions of the police officers, creating an open dialogue and a positive exchange of information. |
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Railroad safety education has been provided to various park district and school groups targeting the youthful population and warning them of the dangers of playing on and near railroad tracks. |
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PACT team members have provided many personal safety and crime prevention presentations to a variety of civic and other groups within the City. |
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The concept and practice of community policing has become a predominant practice throughout the department. It is an accepted and effective program. Patrol officers have accepted the responsibility to resolve many issues and problems on their own as a result of this program. |
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The PACT meetings have stimulated discussions pertaining to a Citizen’s Police Academy and have developed an annual National Night Out event. Park Ridge hosted its second National Night Out on Tuesday August 1st, 2006. |
The PACT program has proven to be a successful endeavor to help address many of these and other community issues.
The 911 Cell Phone Bank
The 911 Cell Phone Bank is an organization that provides refurbished cellular phones to give emergency communication for those in need. If you wish to donate your used cellular phones, please drop them off at the police department non-emergency desk anytime. If you have any items that go with the phone, such as instructions, extra batteries or power cords, you may include those as well. If you would like further information, please visit www.911cellphonebank.org.
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The
Are You O.K.? Program
Drug Resistance Education Program The Drug Resistance Education Program in the schools is a very important program to enhance positive interaction between school-aged children and the police department. The Park Ridge Police Department has been invited into the classroom to educate kids on topics including: safety, decision-making, peer pressure and resistance to violence, drug, alcohol and tobacco use. The visits to the schools generally occur sometime in the fall and spring semesters. Each session is approximately 30 minutes long. Four patrol officers are assigned to this position on a part-time basis. This is an important program in our schools and has been expanded this year from the grade schools into the middle school setting.
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