Willow Springs PD patch
Willow Springs police release year in review report
By Carol McGowan
Willow Springs Police Chief Jim Ritz recently released the department’s 2021 Year in Review Report.
The report, which was presented to Mayor Melissa Neddermeyer and the Willow Springs Village Board, is an overview of the programs, activities, accomplishments, and statistics that highlight their achievements last year.
In the report, Ritz stated that 2021 and the pandemic presented some unprecedented challenges not just to the police department, but to village residents.
“Despite these challenges, the members of the Willow Springs Police Department
incessantly served our community with professionalism and compassion,” Ritz said. “As a department, we commit to embracing the highest standards of professional policing excellence and being transparent with those we serve. We encourage and support the exchange of information with our community in order to coordinate further department activities and continue to foster our community prevention and awareness programs.”
Ritz stated that the department is committed to serve in a professional manner, and their crime prevention and community-oriented policing initiatives begin with the residents of Willow Springs, who are active in their neighborhoods and communicating with the force.
“Our officers will always do their best to try and take the time to interact with our residents, engage citizens in positive ways, and strive to provide the highest quality of services that are expected and deserved,” he said.
“As police chief, I take great pride in our department’s commitment to excellence in law enforcement
and our continuous delivery of professional services to the Village of Willow Springs. We share that
common perspective with our community in continually building our community partnerships that focus
on those who compromise our safety and our quality of life in our village. We will remain to be a “safety
conscious” community while being devoted to achieving our mission through the continued support of
our residents.”
The WSPD has a new department patch, designed by department personnel. It symbolizes the history of the department and village, the American flag, and the thin blue line colors in support of law enforcement.
Other highlights are:
- After a year-and-a-half mission of working with the Department of Justice and the
federal Drug Enforcement Agency our department was proud to accomplish our
goal of again regaining full “Eligibility” status with the Equitable Sharing Program of the
Department of Justice. Due to mismanagement and improper use of funds by previous
administrations, our department was placed on a permanent “Ineligibility” status and
unable to receive any federal funding or federal grant award consideration – this was a
great, great, great department accomplishment.
• COVID Emergency Crisis Plan Policies were established to plan for mitigation and
emergency response compliance, which created new department protocols in order to
mitigate the spread of COVID-19 virus throughout the department. The department
maintained and acquired the necessary Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), including
face masks, protective gloves, hand sanitizer, vital disinfecting equipment, and personal
temperature thermometers.
• By continuous review, and maintaining up-to-date Policies and Procedures, our
department met all the requirements of the Federal Use of Force Policy and Reporting
Act as adopted and signed by our past pro-law enforcement President of the United
States of America. Our Use of Force Policy was reviewed, submitted, and approved
through the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police. As a department, we are proud to
say we were approved on our first policy submission, because our Use of Force Policies
and Guidelines were current and in accordance with all newly enacted state and federal
requirements.
• Revised numerous existing policies to meet the newly established changes to State of
Illinois statutes in accordance with the newly enacted anti-law enforcement SAFE-T act.
• Implemented and adopted several new policies related to Cybersecurity and responding
to Cybersecurity Critical Incidents in accordance with all Criminal Justice Information
Services (CJIS) and LEADS required mandates.
• Promotion of two department Corporals to the rank of Sergeant
• Promotion of one police officer to the supervisory rank of Corporal
• Hiring of one new full-time police officer
• Criminal Investigations Unit conducted several major investigations culminating in
arrests, and/or arrest warrants being issued for of a number of offenders involved in
serious felony and misdemeanor cases.
• We started our first ever Child Protective Safety Technician Community Program with
our newly certified officer.
• Worked hand-in-hand with our local schools to participate and oversee their state
mandated active shooter training drills.
• Put into operation a new Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) Team for our certified evidence
technicians (ET) for processing our crime scenes.
• Became a member of the Suburban Major Accident Reconstruction Team (SMART).
• Purchased through equitable sharing funds — at no cost to the village — a new
department unmanned air system “Department Drone” which is a tremendous and
valuable department resource.
• Participated in the Special Olympics Illinois Coffee for Champions Event and raised over
$6,700.
• The Willow Springs Police Department teamed up with the Justice Police Department to
take part in the Special Olympics Plane Pull event at O’Hare airport. Team Willow
Springs/Justice was the second largest fundraiser team in the event raising almost
$6,000 — thank YOU for your support of our efforts.
• Attendance in very valuable training sponsored by the National Center for Missing and
Exploited Children (NCMEC).
• Started a new partnership with the Crisis Center for South Suburbia and their Domestic
Violence Advocacy Program.
• Hosted our 3rd Annual Shop-With-A-Cop event that was a tremendous success.
• All full-time police officers being certified in Crisis Intervention Training
• Executed a successful Emergency Operations Plan for the annual four-day WillowFest
event.
• Presented a Department Commendation at a Village Board meeting to our Special
Olympics Team Captain Matt Szeszycki.
• Special thanks to Police Chaplain, Al Hernandez, who works with many police agencies,
for donating so many brand new Christmas Toys for those who attended the first ever
Willow Springs Winterfest, which was attended by so many – thank you.
Congratulations and special recognition went to department personnel:
- Corporal Bob Jennings in celebrating his 20-year anniversary of service to the Willow
Springs Police Department.
• Sergeant Jerry Jelinek on achieving his 15-year anniversary with the department.
• Promotions of Corporals Jerry Jelinek and Michael Jurak to the supervisory rank of
Sergeant.
• Police Officer Ed McKinney being promoted to the supervisory rank of corporal.
The full report can be found on the Village of Willow Springs website.
Local News
Lyons’ new finance director eager to get to work
Spread the loveBy Steve Metsch Ryan Horne loves working with numbers and helping people. So, it’s no surprise he considers his new job the perfect fit. Horne, 52, of Glenview, started work as Lyons’ new finance director on April 18. The next day found him attending meetings of the village board and its finance committee.…
College Report: Area grads earn All-American honors, then win national title
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Staff writer National champions and All-Americans. Chicago Christian grad Zach Bulthuis, Marist alum Gene McNulty and former Lyons’ star Matt Slivinski were last week named All-American first-teamers by the National Volleyball Association/American Volleyball Coaches Association. Then they proved they were deserving of the honor, helping Carthage College win an NCAA…
Boys Volleyball: Chicago Christian runs win streak to 11
Spread the loveBy Randy Whalen Correspondent Chicago Christian continues to impress. Riverside-Brookfield is seeking consistency. That scenario played out April 19 when the Knights rallied for a big 18-25, 25-19, 25-18 comeback victory over the Bulldogs in a key Metro Suburban Conference matchup in Palos Heights. By week’s end, Chicago Christian (16-2, 3-0 in Metro Suburban)…
Pro Soccer Report: New-look Red Stars ready to open season
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Staff writer No Rory Dames. No Julie Ertz. No Sarah Gorden. No Katie Johnson. A lot of familiar faces will be missing when the 2022 Chicago Red Stars’ open the NWSL season on Saturday against Louisville, with the match scheduled for a 7 p.m. start at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview.…
St. Albert wins Bitty Basketball championship
Spread the loveThe St. Albert the Great Coed Bitty Basketball Team won the 2022 Championship. The Bitty Basketball Team consists of students from third- and fourth-grade. After not having sports last year due to COVID, students returned to the basketball court with practices being held at various sites in Burbank. The basketball season runs from…
OLCHS teachers awarded for excellence
Spread the loveBy Jennifer Jepsen Oak Lawn Community High School bilingual teacher Marwa Elmasry has been named the 2022 Bilingual Teacher of the Year through ISBE’s Teacher of the Year program. “The Teacher of the Year and Those Who Excel programs recognize the people who make education in Illinois so exceptional,” said State Supt. of…
Electric violinist Mark Wood coming to Argo
Spread the loveBy Carol McGowan Legendary electric violinist Mark Wood is coming to Argo High School. He will perform in concert with the Argo and Wilkins Junior High Orchestras on May 2, at 7:30 p.m. The concert will take place in the Portillo Performing Arts Center at the Summit school. Wood has quite the background.…
Hickory Hills man arrested for hitting state trooper with vehicle
Spread the loveBy Bob Bong A Hickory Hills man has been charged with drunken driving after hitting a state trooper with his pickup truck while the officer was conducting a traffic stop on Interstate 55 at Lemont Road. Porfirio Alverez Jr., 34, was arrested after he struck a State Police cruiser last Friday. Police said…
Neighbors
Pritzker calls SCOTUS emergency abortion ruling ‘small respite’ as state protections await his signature
By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com Abortion remains legal as an emergency medical procedure in Idaho, for now, after a Thursday U.S. Supreme Court ruling, while a bill that would cement those protections in Illinois law awaits Gov. JB Pritzker’s signature. The 6-3 decision saw the three liberal justices concur with the order. Three…
‘We don’t really know what we’re voting on,’ top Dem says of Pritzker’s prison plan
By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com LINCOLN – On the eve of a scheduled vote to advise Gov. JB Pritzker’s administration on plans to close and rebuild a pair of dilapidated state prisons, hundreds filed into a junior high school gymnasium Thursday evening clad in matching green T-shirts. Printed on the shirts was a…
SCOTUS ruling could upend federal corruption cases for Madigan, allies
By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday narrowed the scope of a federal bribery law prosecutors have relied on in their cases against former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan and several of his allies convicted of bribing him. A jury last spring found those allies – former lobbyists and…
Quantum technology companies set for big tax incentives under new law
By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO – Gov. JB Pritzker on Wednesday gave final approval to a plan to bolster the state’s tech industry, including an incentives package – backed by $500 million in the state budget – aimed at making Illinois the nation’s leader in quantum computing. The package also expands tax…
Illinois child tax credit: who gets it, how much is it?
By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com In the final hours of their spring legislative session, Illinois lawmakers approved a tax credit of up to about $300 for families with young children. The credit is available to Illinoisans with children under age 12 who qualify for the federal Earned Income Tax Credit, or EITC. Although…
Illinois’ ban on ‘bump stocks’ remains in place despite U.S. Supreme Court decision
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – An Illinois law banning the sale and use of “bump stocks” and other devices that increase the firing power of semiautomatic weapons remains in place, at least for now, despite a U.S. Supreme Court decision Friday striking down a federal ban on such items. “Illinois law…
Another Choate Mental Health Center employee indicted for abuse of resident
By BETH HUNDSDORFER Capitol News Illinois bhundsdorfer@capitolnewsillinois.com Another caregiver at Choate Mental Health and Developmental Center in Anna is facing charges for abusing a patient. A grand jury indicted Joseph A. Clark, 24, of Grand Chain, on a felony charge of aggravated battery and a misdemeanor charge of battery. Clark pinned a Choate resident to…
State highway shootings decline as critics sue over ‘dragnet surveillance’
By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois jnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com Illinois State Police say an automated license plate reader program has helped the agency identify witnesses or suspects in 82 percent of highway shooting cases this year, including all eight that resulted in a death. But as the state looks to further expand its network of more than…
Illinois’ ban on ‘bump stocks’ remains in place despite U.S. Supreme Court decision
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – An Illinois law banning the sale and use of “bump stocks” and other devices that increase the firing power of semiautomatic weapons remains in place, at least for now, despite a U.S. Supreme Court decision Friday striking down a federal ban on such items. “Illinois law…
Just weeks before Republican National Convention, Illinois GOP chair announces resignation
By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com Halfway through the 2024 election cycle and just a few weeks away from the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Illinois GOP Chair Don Tracy on Wednesday announced his resignation as head of the state Republican Party. Tracy, who’d held the job since February 2021, explained his resignation in…