The police chiefs from Hickory Hills and Palos Hills agree that technology has been an asset in solving crimes.
However, the two police officials also want to point out that there is another factor in making communities safer.
It is the public that makes the communities safer, they said.
Hickory Hills Chief Adam Gulczynski and Palos Hills Chief Jeff Cucio both presented an update on their cities during the Hills Chamber of Commerce Police Luncheon held Feb. 11 at the Hickory Hills Country Club.
Cucio, who has been a member of the police force for 26 years, said that implementing license plate readers has been a boost in apprehending offenders.
“They are not perfect but they do help,” Cucio told the business leaders in attendance.
“We had a robbery occur at 103rd and Harlem and we were able to track them into Canada. An arrest was made when they arrived back in the U.S.”
Cucio added that it was the fact they were able to track the suspects with the license plate readers and were able to communicate with other municipalities that allowed the police to close in. The introduction of this technology allows police departments to communicate with each other almost instantly, the two chiefs said.
Both police chiefs said that the license plate readers systems are used in both cities and the information is shared.
“You have this technology,” Cucio said. “We have it so we work together.”
Gulczynski said technology has made both departments more efficient and allows them to focus on leads.
“It has been a game-changer,” Gulczynski said.
But Cucio added that while technological advances have allowed police officers to track criminals and share more data, support from residents is crucial in solving crimes.
“We would like to hear from people more frequently,” Cucio said. “You can call about speeders or even if a coyote is in the backyard. I mean that is OK. We want to hear from you more often.”
Gulczynski, who has been a member of the police force for 21 years, said that crime patterns develop over time. He mentioned that there has been an increase in groups of offenders breaking into businesses and stealing money from video gaming machines.
“This has been happening more frequently and we need people to call us,” Gulczynski said. “Never be afraid to call the police.”
Cucio added that they check on all phone calls. While some of them may result in false alarms, calls from residents when they see something unusual could prevent a crime.
“We check gas stations, schools and local businesses throughout the day,” Cucio said. “The public who call the police are a great help.”
Both chiefs said that with added technology and an involved public makes their jobs a little easier. Cucio said that public involvement keeps the communities of Hickory Hills and Palos Hills safer.
“Our doors are always open and the phones are always on,” Gulczynski said.