The Oak Park Police Department is budgeted for 118 officers but 32 of those positions are vacant. That’s 27% of the entire police force. Police Chief Shatonya Johnson said the department is working as fast as they can to fill the positions, but she’s not concerned about a risk to public safety despite each division being affected.
An 11-year-old River Forest boy won the Outstanding Community Member Award after the River Forest officials were impressed by the actions he took during the hijacking of his mother’s car.Dominic Schmahl was recognized by the River Forest Village Board at the end of September.Police Chief Jim O’Shea presented the award. Domini also was sworn in as an honorary junior police officer.
River Forest officials will have to make room on the display wall in Village Hall after the police department finished first in its category in the 2022-23 Illinois Traffic Safety Challenge.The ITSC is described by the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police Traffic Committee, which coordinates the program, as a “friendly competition” between law enforcement agencies of a similar size and type throughout Illinois. The program is supported by a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration grant administered through the Illinois Department of Transportation, Bureau of Safety Programs and Engineering, as well as funding from private entities.Scott Kristianson, program director of the ITSC, presented the first place award plaque to police Chief James O’Shea and village President Cathy Adduci at the village board meeting earlier this month after River Forest finished first in the municipal category for villages with 26 to 35 sworn officers. Awards were presented in eight municipal