GUIDELINE FOR PARK AND FOREST PRESERVE POLICE IN ILLINOIS

The age of giving police powers to amateurs is over. To carry the badge and gun in this age calls for a professional, trained in his field. On April 22nd, the first meeting of Illinois Park Police was held in Peoria. It is hoped that an organization designed to help park and forest preserve police agencies will be formed so that small districts having problems with local agency contracts can seek aid, and the profession of park policing will grow in stature.

In order to be in compliance with State Statute, all park police appointed by a Board of Commissioners must be separately and individually on the payroll, unless policing is performed by contract with a city or county 30 days prior to appointment. They must be 21 years of age, with no criminal record. If a private security agency is used, their men can be given no police powers unless they are individually appointed and meet the preceding criteria.

If a park district or forest preserve district wishes to contract with a county or city police agency, a formal contract should be drawn. Questions of liability, working relationships, men assigned, and party to the contract obligations should be formalized for everyone's protection.

Should a part-time only force be desired, it should be encompassed in the contract. A park district or forest preserve district should not try to set up an independent part-time only police agency and expect a working relationship with other agencies, unless such part time police are off-duty regular officers of such an agency.

Once set up, the park or forest preserve police agency should be familiar with regulations. (Ill. Rev. Statute 105:4-7, 105:5-9 generally and 105: 330a in Cook and DuPage Counties.) Ordinances should be adopted to insure Ill. Rev. Statute 95.5: 11 applies to park drives.

In order to gain full recognition as a bonafide police agency, the department should report crimes independently to the F.B.I, and the Illinois Bureau of Identification. Benefits such as improved working relationships with local, state, and federal agencies will follow. The Chief should join both the International and Illinois Chiefs of Police Organization. Some full-time officers should be properly appointed juvenile officers. Also, continuous training is a must to keep officers current.

It is hoped that the Police Training Institute will initiate a special training session for park officers once a year. Since parks are for enjoyment of the public, park policing is more public relations oriented, calling for the mature judgment of each officer.

Illinois Parks and Recreation 5 July/August, 1974