Police
Czajkowski named new Palos Heights police chief
Larry Yott retires after 50-year career By Jeff Vorva William Czajkowski joined the Palos Heights police force in 1988 as a part-time officer when he was 24 and he remembers his first day well. “I was scared as heck,” he admitted. “I was very nervous.” He obviously got over his first-day jitters and began climbing…
Read MoreMan dies after crashing into Bridgeview Park District pool
By Bob Bong A 71-year-old man died after he suffered an apparent health episode and crashed his pickup truck into the Bridgeview Park District pool, which was empty at the time. Police said the man was driving a 2011 Chevy four-door pickup near 81st Street and Beloit Avenue about 6 a.m. on February 8 when he…
Read MoreLast suspect in Oak Lawn home invasion arrested in Texas
By Joe Boyle A police chase in Houston that occurred on Feb. 6 resulted in the arrest of the last suspect of an Oak Lawn home invasion that took place last year. Working with the FBI’s Violent Crimes Task Force, Houston police and Texas State Troopers located suspect Anthony Mitchell, 31, of Chicago, who is…
Read MorePolice body cams now in use in Stickney
By Carol McGowan All police officers in the Village of Stickney now have a body camera as part of their uniform. At last week’s village board meeting, Police Chief James Sassetti told the mayor, board of trustees, and those in attendance that as of February 6, the body cam program was underway, and every officer…
Read MoreOak Lawn trustee hails efforts of police
By Joe Boyle An Oak Lawn trustee applauded the efforts of the village’s police force after they responded to incidents of crime during the past month. Trustee Ralph Soch (6th) thanked the efforts of the Oak Lawn police following the arrest of a third suspect last week in Texas who was linked to a home invasion…
Read MoreOak Lawn police officer indicted for last summer’s beating of teen
By Joe Boyle An Oak Lawn police officer involved in a brutal confrontation and later the arrest of a 17-year-old last summer was indicted Tuesday by a Cook County grand jury. Officer Patrick O’Connell was indicted on counts of aggravated battery and official misconduct in connection with the July 27 arrest of Hadi Abuatelah. Zaid…
Read MoreSheriff warns public of phone scam
Cook County Sheriff Thomas J. Dart is warning of a telephone scam where a caller identifying as a Sheriff’s Office employee tells victims they must pay a large fine for missing court or they will go to jail. The caller tells the victim to pay the fine using a money transfer app such as Zelle…
Read MoreEvergreen Park police cited after domestic violence arrest
By Joe Boyle Nine members of the Evergreen Park Police Department received commendations for making an arrest and possibly preventing further violence. Police Chief Michael Saunders requested that the commendations be given to the officers during the Evergreen Park Village Board meeting on Monday night. “The commendations were given to the officers for responding to a case…
Read MoreDrone takes McCook crime fighting to new level
By Steve Metsch The McCook Police Department has a new weapon to fight crime. A new drone equipped with an infrared camera and the ability to zoom in 200 times was at the village’s latest board meeting on Jan. 17. The village used part of a $50,000 grant from the Secretary of State’s office to…
Read MoreOrland Park cops honored and defended
By Jeff Vorva The Village of Orland Park hosted its police awards ceremony last week and, as usual, Mayor Keith Pekau expressed his gratitude for the job the police force does. He also was irked by some comments he has seen online with negative comments on a post. On Jan. 7, Orland police responded to…
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