Orland Park offers chances to meet cops on the beat

Originally published April 6, 2017

The Orland Park Police Department is providing an opportunity for the community to interact with police personnel, gain insight on crime statistics in the area and, most importantly, meet the officers during a series of event it’s calling beat meetings.

A beat is a specific geographic area within Orland Park. There are eight beats within the incorporated limits of the village. Beat meetings are held throughout the village. To learn your area, head to www.orland-park.il.us/.

Orland Park Police Chief Timothy McCarthy said beat meetings have been happening in Orland Park for 20 years. Typically, anywhere from 15-50 people attend, which usually depends on what is happening in their area, he said.

Chief McCarthy previously moderated the meetings, but now finds it is effective to have beat patrol officers and supervisors — personnel who interact with the local population on a day-to-day basis — lead the beat meetings. It is a great way for the community to meet the officers assigned to their beat.

“At the meetings, we will provide crime statistics, policies/procedures, but most importantly, we listen — we listen to what is going on in that specific beat. It may be traffic concerns, or a change in their neighborhood that they may be more tuned in to. We get the conversation going. We would rather be proactive than reactive,” McCarthy said.

Division Commander Anthony Farrell said aside from police, a code enforcement officer attends from the Village Hall and village officials typically attend the meetings, also.

“We provide an overview of some of the services the police department provides. We discuss crime statistics across the entire village and specifically for that beat,” he said. “We also discuss specific problems that are impacting the village and how to possibly address them. This includes elderly scams, ruse burglaries, car burglaries, or any issue that need to be addressed.”

The most frequent questions or concerns brought up in the beat meeting concern traffic.

A recent beat meeting at Meadow Ridge School, 10959 159th St., was moderated by Sgt. Wayne Lee. He provided crime statistics and an overview of the police department. He explained the divisions of the police department, and how they work together to keep us safe.

Investigator Dawn Gorman-Kenny provided information on statistics concerning sex offenders and crimes against youth, which has been her focus. She provided information on how to check for updated information on offenders in our area at: https://www.isp.state.il.us/sor/ This was Gorman-Kenny’s last beat meeting, as she will be retiring later this year.

Sgt. Raymond Kelly provided an overview of the patrol procedures for the police department, and Officer Casey Wall spoke about this “beat” specifically. Wall also demonstrated the gear he wears every day on patrol.

Officer Phil Glecier shared information about traffic and other issues. And code enforcement Officer Cheryl Jordan attended the meeting to answer building code questions. She spoke on how her division and the Orland Park Police Department work together to keep Orland Park safe.

If you missed the recent beat meetings, there are other opportunities to meet police officers. These include “cookout with a cop”, senior luncheons, national night out against crime, teen citizens police academy, citizens police academy, coffee with a cop, health fairs, block parties, and community events.

There are several ways issues can be brought to the police department’s attention, including the non-emergency phone number, 708-349-4111, and an anonymous TIP line at 708-349-TIPS or online at: crimetips@orlandpark.org.