20 minute read
GOVERNMENT
Five things to know about Oak Park’s Citizen Police Oversight Committee
By Stacey Sheridan
Staff Reporter
The Citizen Police Oversight Committee is one of the Village of Oak Park’s most talked about but perhaps least understood commissions. The 7-member group, made up of volunteers, meets regularly throughout the year to evaluate conduct complaints lodged against members of the Oak Park Police Department. To give Oak Park residents a more complete knowledge of just what that entails, Wednesday Journal sat down with CPOC Chair Donovan Pepper, who elaborated on the scope of the committee’s authority.
1. CPOC does not investigate the complaints
When grievances against police are filed, an investigation into the incident is launched. That investigation is handled within the police department, carried out by four or five sworn officers, who also review the complaint. CPOC plays no part at all in the investigation process.
2. CPOC does not decide disciplinary measures
Once the investigation is completed, the police chief or a police commander makes a recommendation to CPOC regarding the officer involved in the complaint. The recommendation could involve further training for the officer or even disciplinary measures. That information is then provided to CPOC, which determines whether it agrees with the recommendation or if the committee believes further investigation is necessary.
CPOC does not have a say in what disciplinary measures, if any, are taken against the officer. A formal labor process must be followed before disciplining an officer.
“These are union-covered employees,” said Pepper of police officers. “There is a process that must be followed for discipline under their union contract.”
Members do have the ability to share thoughts on the matter with the department’s top brass, however.
“We do have a lot of opportunity to speak with leadership of the department, including the chief, to discuss what our thoughts are about the recommendation that’s been made, and why they’re made,” said Pepper.
3. The public cannot access the complaints reviewed by CPOC
While CPOC meetings are public and can be attended by any member of the public, the complaints themselves are not available for public perusal. CPOC reviews the complaints in executive session to protect the privacy of the individuals involved in each complaint.
“They’re complaints regarding personnel,” Pepper explained. “That’s always been private.”
Neither executive session minutes nor records related to a public body’s adjudication of employee grievances or employee disciplinary cases are subject to the Freedom of Information Act under Illinois law.
However, the FOIA exemption does not extend to final outcome of cases in which disciplinary action has been imposed. 4. The authority of CPOC may be broadened
The power of CPOC is outlined in the ordinance under which it was first created. However, there has been a push to amend the ordinance to grant the commission greater authority. Currently, the commission is looking into the possibility of widening its purview.
“The commission is currently reviewing what is possible,” said Pepper. “We are reviewing options to change the methodology or how we review cases.”
At this moment, no such amendment to the ordinance has been drafted, but CPOC has recently been granted more access into complaint investigations than it had previously. CPOC can now review some of the audio and footage related to investigations.
5. The Oak Park Police Department receives infrequent complaints
CPOC reviewed only 10 complaints against police officers between October 2020 and April 2021, which was three fewer than in the previous year. Of the 10 complaints made, only three were found substantiated.
Pepper chalks up the relatively low complaint numbers to the officer training efforts deployed by former Oak Park police chief and current U.S. Marshal LaDon Reynolds.
“When you look at the size of our town and the size of our police force and you look at the number of complaints – I think it’s relatively small,” he said. “That’s a testament to the work of the department in training its men and women in the force.”
Donovan Pepper
Great Things Happening in River Forest
Community Solar
Earlier this year, the Village Board announced a partnership with the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus to o er community solar subscriptions to Village residents. The program allows residents to receive guaranteed savings on their electricity bill by simply enrolling. MC Squared Energy Services is a municipally sponsored program that builds and maintains solar farm projects. Each solar project delivers solar power to the electric grid and reduces the system’s dependence on fossil fuels. By enrolling in the program, residents support those solar projects and receive the benefi t of reduced utility costs. Subscribers can expect 20% savings on the supply portion of their ComEd bills.
Residents do not have to invest in their own solar panels, and there are no solar farms that are being constructed in the Village as part of this program. There are also no upfront costs and no need to commit to a long-term contract. The Community Solar program is yet another way the Village is showing its commitment to sustainability.
Online Permitting
The Village has recently transferred all permitting processes to an online portal, making work more convenient for homeowners, business owners and contractors. The online portal is available 24/7 and there is no need to bring documentation or payment to Village Hall. The Village website has a comprehensive selection of instructional videos and forms available for users if assistance is needed.
Modernizing Water Infrastructure
Over the past several months, Village sta has been working to install new technology to improve water meter reading. The Automated Metering Infrastructure (AMI) allows sta to collect information remotely and more accurately. This e ciency creates signifi cant savings in sta time and cost, allowing sta members to perform other public works duties throughout the Village. The technology also enables village sta to more easily detect potential leaks. Currently, data is provided on a monthly basis, however the new system allows for daily monitoring. Customers can also monitor their own consumption habits using an online portal called Water Smart.
The ability to detect water loss promotes water conservation at
a time when Lake Michigan water supply allocations are being heavily scrutinized. This upgrade in service does not cost anything to water customers.
Composting Collection
As part of the Village’s new contract with Lakeshore Recycling Systems (formerly Roy Strom Refuse Company), residents are able to participate in composting food scraps and yard waste. The Village has a stated goal to decrease the amount of organic waste sent to traditional landfi lls. The composting program o ers residents the ability to purchase separate bins that can store organics, yard waste, soiled paper and food scraps. The waste hauler will collect the bins and transport the waste to a composting facility in Illinois. Every spring, LRS will notify participants that compost is available to be delivered to their home. This compost can then be used for gardening and landscaping in your own backyard.
Quality Development
This April, the developers and Village o cials held a groundbreaking ceremony to initiate construction on an exciting development, RF at the corner of Lake Street and Lathrop Avenue. The mixed used development includes luxury condominiums and retail storefronts in the heart of the Lake Street Commercial corridor.
RF comes only months after the opening of The Sheridan, a senior care community with 125 assisted and memory care units on Harlem Avenue. The Village continues to seek quality development opportunities to enhance the vibrant commercial corridors of North Avenue, Madison Street and Lake Street. One of the core community principles identifi es in the 2019 Comprehensive Plan was minimizing and stabilizing our property tax burden, and creating thriving commercial areas is one of the primary goals of the plan. The Village’s Economic Development Commission is currently exploring ways to improve the Village Code as it relates to development.
Discover more at: www.vrf.us
Hotlines
Village of Oak Park
Village Hall: 708-383-6400 Police non-emergency: (708) 386-3800 Fire non-emergency: (708) 358-5600 Parking, general: (708) 358-7275 Overnight parking pass: (708) 716-0716 (8 p.m.-2:30 a.m.)
Village of River Forest
Village Hall: (708) 366-8500 Police non-emergency: (708) 366-7125 Fire non-emergency: (708) 366-7629 Overnight parking pass: (708) 366-7125
Overnight parking
Oak Park prohibits street parking from 2:30-6 a.m. except when allowed by permit or pass. Residents are allotted up to 10 overnight parking passes per month for each license plate. The first three overnight passes each month are free and the additional seven per month are $7 each. Overnight passes may be requested at www.oak-park. us/onlineservices. Special extended passes are available for up to 30 nights under certain conditions. See the parking information numbers listed above for the Village of Oak Park.
River Forest prohibits parking from 2 to 6 a.m. unless granted a waiver by the village. Residents may call after 5 p.m. to receive permission from a dispatcher to park a vehicle on the street between the hours of 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. Overnight parking allowances are not granted more than three times in any 30-day period. See the overnight parking number listed above for the village of River Forest.
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Howie, a Labrador retriever mix, has joined the Oak Park police department as a community service dog. Off. Joe Schejbal offers a warm welcome.
Oak Park Government
Village Hall
123 Madison St. Oak Park (708) 358-5700 TTY: (708) 383-6400 (711) oak-park.us Hours: Mon.- Fri. 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. Village Board
board@oak-park.us oak-park.us Board meetings are typically held the fourth Tuesday at 6:30 pm. Until further notice, meetings are virtual and accessible to all from oppl. org/board.
Mayor (aka Village President) Vicki Scaman
Trustees ■ Chibuike Enyia ■ Ravi Parakkat ■ Susan Buchanan ■ Lucia Robinson ■ James Taglia ■ Arti Walker-Peddakotla
Village Clerk Christina Waters Administration
Village Manager: Kevin Johnson Deputy Village Manager: Ahmad Zayyad Adjudication Director: Robert Anderson Chief Financial Officer: Steven Drazner Communications Director: Erik Jacobsen Community Relations Director: Cedric Melton Development Customer Services Director: Tammie Grossman Fire Chief: Ronald Kobyleski Interim Police Chief: Shatonya Johnson Public Works Director: John Wielebnicki
Information Technology Director: Alvin Nepomuceno Village Attorney: Paul Stephanides
Citizen Boards, Committees and Commissions
Oak Park has 20 citizen volunteer boards and commissions assisting and advising the village board. Call or visit Oak.park.us for more information or to volunteer.
Fire Department
100 N.Euclid Ave. Oak Park (708) 358-5600 To report a fire: 911 Police Department - Village Hall
123 Madison St. Oak Park (708) 386-3800 Emergencies: 911 Crimes Tips: (708) 434-1636 (anonymous)
Parking Department
(708) 358-7275 Daytime pass: (708) 358-7275 Overnight pass: (708) 716 0716 Extended pass: (708) 358-7275
Police Substations
Phone numbers are for nonemergencies.Substations are not always manned. Avenue-Lake Parking Structure, 710 North Blvd.,no phone Barrie Center, 1101 S. Lombard, (708) 383-6905 Metra Station, 1119 North Blvd., (708) 358-0876
Mills Tower, 1025 Pleasant Place, (708) 386-7536 Stevenson Park Center, 49 Lake,708-383-6910 618 S. Austin, (708) 386-2137 4 Chicago Ave., (708) -386-2097 6311 W. North Ave., no phone 1010 Lake,no phone Community Policing Zones
Zone 1: North/Austin/ Ridgeland/Chicago; Officer Eric Locke, (224)-301-1608 Zone 2: North/Ridgeland/ Chicago/Harlem; Officer Christine Simkus, (224)-301-1132 Zone 3: Chicago/Austin/ Metra tracks/Harlem; Officer Raphael Murphy, (708)- 305-9779 Zone 4: Austin/Metra tracks/ Oak Park/Madison; Officer Derrick Verge II, (708)-613-1554 Zone 5: Metra tracks/Oak Park/Harlem; Officer Michael Murphy, (224)-330-0004
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Zone 6: Madison/Oak Park/ Austin; Officer Derrick Verge II, (708)-613-1554 Zone 7: Eisenhower/ Roosevelt/East/Austin; Officer John Rumoro, (708)-305-9782 Zone 8: Eisenhower/ Roosevelt/Harlem/East; Officer John Rumoro, (708) 305-9782
River Forest Government
Village Hall
Police Department Fire Department 400 Park Ave. River Forest Village Hall: (708) 366-8500 Police non-emergency: (708) 366-7125 Fire non-emergency: (708) 366-7629 vrf.us Hours: Mon. 8 a.m. -7 p.m., Tues.- Fri. 8 a.m.- 4:30 p.m.
Village Board The board meets at 7 p.m. the 2nd and 4th Mon. each month in the Community Room of Village Hall.
President Catherine Adduci
Trustees ■ Kathleen Brennan ■ Erika Bachner ■ Robert O’Connell
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Painting & Staining for over 20 years!
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■ Lisa Gillis ■ Ken Johnson ■ Respicio Vazquez
Village Clerk Jonathan Keller
River Forest Administration
Administrator: Brian Murphy Assistant Administrator: Jon Pape Finance Director: Rosemary McAdams Fire Marshal: Kevin Wiley Police Chief: Jim O’Shea Public Works: Jeff Loster
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Boards and Commissions
Development Review Board Economic Dev. Commission Fire & Police Board Historic Preservation Commission Local Ethics Commission Plan Commission Police Pension Board Fire Pension Board Traffic & Safety Commission Zoning Board of Appeals
Citizens are encouraged to volunteer to serve on a board or commission.
Postal Services
Oak Park Main Post Office
901 Lake St. Oak Park Preferred: (800) 275-8777 Branch: (708) 848-2440 Hearing impaired TTY: (877) 889-2457 Hours: Mon.- Fri.8 a.m.- 7 p.m., Sat.8 a.m.- 4 p.m.,Sun. Closed
Oak Park South Branch Post Office
1116 Garfield St. Oak Park Preferred: (800) 275-8777 Branch: (708) 848-6561 Hearing impaired TTY: (877) 889-2457 Hours: Mon.- Fri. 9 a.m.- 5 p.m., Sat. 9 a.m.- noon, Sun. Closed
River Forest Branch Post Office
401 William St. River Forest Preferred: (800) 275-8777 Branch: (708) 366-0977 Hearing impaired TTY: (877) 889-2457 Hours: Mon. - Fri. 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Sat. 9 a.m. - noon, Sun. Closed
Township Government
Oak Park Township
105 S. Oak Park Ave. Oak Park (708) 383-8005 oakparktownship.org Hours: Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Oak Park Township provides government assistance through social services that help improve the wellbeing of residents at all ages and stages of life. We offer supportive services for seniors, youth, and people with disabilities, along with programs that address the unique challenges of mental health, substance abuse, unemployment and more. In addition, we serve as the community property tax advocate in helping residents understand their property assessments and how they may realize tax savings through appeals or exemptions.
Supervisor: Clarmarie Keenan Manager: Gavin Morgan Assessor: Ali ElSaffar Clerk: DaToya Burtin-Cox
Family Friendly & Family Centered
Comprehensive healthcare for everyone, from newborns to seniors.
• Women’s health (including
PAP smears, IUD placement) • Adult & Pediatric Care
• Well child, school, sport and camp physicals • Vaccinations
• On site laboratory/phlebotomy (Quest Lab) • Chronic Disease Management • Same Day Sick Visits Available
• COVID 19 VACCINES available for all patients 6 months and older
• Telehealth appointments by phone now available
Kathryn VanBuskirk, DO is accepting NEW patients and is in-network with most insurance plans. Allison Byrne, MD Matthew HagenSwiecicki, DO
Allison Byrne, MD and Matthew HagenSwiecicki, DO will be joining us in August, 2022 and will be accepting NEW patients with most insurance plans.
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The Oak Park Township staff welcomes visitors during the rebranding event on June 6.
Lake Street
FAMILY PHYSICIANS
1010 W. Lake Street, Suite 301, Oak Park, IL 60301 708-524-8600 • 708-524-8147 fax www.LakeStreetFamilyPhysicians.com
Director of Youth Services: Megan Traficano Director ofSenior Services: Pamela Mahn Community Mental Health Board Executive Director: Cheryl Potts
Trustees ■ Eric Davis ■ Ade Onayemi ■ Tim Thomas ■ Margaret Trybus
River Forest Township
8020 W. Madison St. River Forest (708) 366-2029 riverforesttownship.org The township provides financial support for programs and services offered by local organizations and serves as a service referral center. Services include youth and senior services and programs,mental health, substance abuse,domestic violence,financial assistance programs for unemployed and disabled residents, meals for the homebound, voter registration and more.
Supervisor: Carla Sloan (708) 366-2029 Assessor/Tax Inquiries: Pamela Kende (708) 3662787 Clerk/Voting Inquiries: Vanessa Druckman (708) 771-6159 ext.234 Senior Outreach Coordinator: Betsy Kelly Mental Health Administrator: Avis Rudner Trustees ■ Helene Connolly ■ Deana Herman ■ Keith Strom ■ Karen Taubman
State Government
Governor
J.B. Pritzker (D) 207 State House Springfield,IL62706 (217) 782-6830 or (217) 782-6831 TTY: (888) 261-3336 www2.illinois.gov
Senatorial Districts
Oak Park is divided into the 4th and 39th senatorial districts. All ofRiver Forest is in the 4th senatorial district. 4th District Senator
Kimberly Lightford (D) District office 10330 W. Roosevelt Rd. Suite 308 Westchester, 60154 Phone: (708) 343-7444 State office 323B Capitol Bldg. Springfield,62706 Phone: (217) 782-8505
President ofthe Senate 39th District Senator
Don Harmon (D) District office 6941-B W. North Ave. Oak Park,60302 Phone: (708) 848-2002 State office 329B Capitol Bldg. Springfield,62706 Phone: (217) 782-8176
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Representative Districts Oak Park is divided into the 7th,8th,and 78th state representative districts.All ofRiver Forest is in the 7th representative district.
7th District Representative
Emanuel “Chris” Welch (D) District office 10055 W. Roosevelt Rd., Suite E Westchester, 60154 Phone: (708) 450-1000 State office 266-S Stratton Office Bldg. Springfield,62706 Phone: (217) 782-8120
8th District Representative
LaShawn Ford (D) District office 4800 W. Chicago Ave. 2nd floor Chicago, 60651 Phone: (773) 378-5902 State office 239-E Stratton Office Bldg. Springfield,62706 Phone: (217) 782-5962
78th District Representative
Camille Y. Lilly (D) District office 5755 W. Division St. Chicago, 60651 Phone: (773) 473-7300 State office 270-S Stratton Office Bldg. Springfield, IL 62706 Phone: (217) 782-6400
Federal Government
U. S. Representative 7th District
Rep. Danny Davis (D) District office 2815 W. Fifth Ave. Chicago, 60612 Phone: (773) 533-7520 Washington office 2159 Rayburn HOB Washington D.C.20515 Phone: (202) 225-5006 davis.house.gov
U. S.Senators
Richard Durbin (D) Chicago office 230 S. Dearborn St., Suite 3892 Chicago, 60604 Phone: (312) 353-4952 State office 525 S.8th St. Springfield,62703 Phone: (217) 492-4062 Washington office 711 Hart Senate Bldg. Washington,DC 20510 Phone: (202) 224-2152 Durbin.senate.gov
Tammy Duckworth (D) Chicago office 230 S. Dearborn St., Suite 3900 Chicago, 60604 Phone: (312) 886-3506 State office 8 S.Old State Capitol Plaza Springfield,62701 Phone: (217) 528-6124 Washington office 524 Hart Senate Office Bldg. Washington,DC 20510 Phone: (202) 224-2854 Duckworth.senate.gov
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The Music of World War II Indigenous Futurism
