The Elmhurst Police Department has been using digital photography to enhance their ability to document crime scenes for several years. As the technology in digital photography advances, the department continually researches new equipment and purchases the products that will provide the best quality and value.
Digital photography brings numerous benefits and options to the evidence technicians that process crime scenes. Digital photos can be reviewed immediately, and can be printed out in numerous quantities and sizes quickly. Photographs of crime scenes can now immediately be included in the case file that the detectives receive, enabling the case detective to see what the crime scene looked like, rather than relying solely on a written description. Using the proper type of digital camera, photo quality printer, and photo paper will yield pictures that rival the quality of a 35mm camera. In addition to providing another valuable tool for the evidence technicians, the use of digital photography has enabled the Police Department to drastically cut its use of Polaroid photography, which has resulted in an overall cost saving to the City.
Besides digital still photography, the Police Department also uses digital videography to document serious crime scenes, with the digital video camera offering clarity that conventional video cameras cannot match. It is also possible to zoom into a specific area of a digital video to retrieve images that may have been too small to see in a regular format.
By Commander Robert Kopczynski
The Police Department's evidence technicians started the new year behind the wheel of a 2003 Ford Expedition. The vehicle was purchased to replace the previous Expedition, which had accumulated over 100,000 miles of service.
In addition to the exterior styling changes and interior improvements, the Police department's Expedition has been equipped with an after-market cargo tray that slides out from the rear hatch area. The cargo tray was custom designed and built specifically for the Elmhurst Police Department, and allows the evidence technicians to easily access the wide array of equipment that is carried in the vehicle to process crime scenes. The Police Department enjoys a very advanced evidence technician unit and constantly strives to stay at the cutting edge of forensic technology. As technology advances it brings with it new types of specialized equipment that assists evidence technicians and crime scene analysts in linking suspects to crimes. The continuing accumulation of forensic equipment is what prompted the Police Department to switch from a conventional sedan to a sport utility vehicle in 1994, resulting in the purchase of a Ford Explorer. The switch was not only driven by the ability to carry all of the equipment, but also the ability to carry it in a vehicle that was not adversely affected by the increased load. The addition of four wheel drive also meant that the evidence vehicle would be able to operate during any weather conditions that may occur.
With the purchase of the most recent evidence vehicle, the Elmhurst evidence technicians will continue to enjoy the benefits of a rugged, all-weather vehicle that is capable of safely carrying all of the forensic equipment they need to "Provide the Best" to the citizens of Elmhurst.
Welcome to the Elmhurst Police Department web site. The City of Elmhurst is located 15 miles west of downtown Chicago in DuPage County, Illinois. We enjoy a very low crime rate and have a very safe community. The men and women of the Elmhurst Police Department embrace a community oriented policing philosophy best summarized by our motto "Providing the Best". Our community oriented policing procedures combine partnerships with the community, problem solving, and "one-stop shopping" philosophy to provide service and safety to the residents and visitors. Our one-stop shopping philosophy means that all of the employees of the Elmhurst Police Department will try to handle citizen problems without sending citizens from agency to agency. This requires that the members of the Police Department take that "extra step" to do whatever is necessary to assist the citizen. For example, recently a businessman observed what he thought to be an unsafe situation along one of the railroad tracks that pass through our town.
Although the situation was not criminal in nature, members of the Elmhurst Police Department coordinated with the railroad to correct the hazardous situation. We are very fortunate that the citizen called the Police Department with his concern, and we were able to use the resources available to us to correct the situation.
The primary concern of the members of the Elmhurst Police Department is the safety of the citizens and visitors to the City of Elmhurst. The Police Department has many programs to enhance the safety of our residents. "It's Our Town, Let's Slow Down" is a traffic safety program that combines education and enforcement in an effort to improve safety on residential streets. All of our beat officers are aware of the consequences of speeding autos in residential areas and identify problem areas. Additionally, traffic unit officers target areas where residents have complained of speeding autos.
Another concern of the Police Department is the safety of our children. The Police Department has many programs to enhance the safety of our children in school and away from school and to help children to make the right choices as they grow up and become productive citizens. The Police Department has three school resource officers who provide service at York High School and at the three Middle Schools. The purpose of these officers is twofold. First, these officers are there to insure the safety of the children at school. Secondly, the officers are in the school system as a resource to help our children transition to adulthood through counseling, guidance, and mentoring.
The D.A.R.E. program reaches all fifth grade students in both public and private schools in the City of Elmhurst. This program is not only nationally recognized to help children make choices when confronted with drug issues, but also to provide a positive role model to students who may never have met or contacted a police officer before. The D.A.R.E. program is followed up in the Middle Schools by the V.E.G.A. program, which reviews the concepts of the D.A.R.E. program and also talks about violence and handling interpersonal relationship issues. Our crime prevention officers also provide programs for bike safety, babysitting safety, and many other topics to insure the safety of our children.
Additionally, the members of the Elmhurst Police Department are encouraged to think globally. Crime and safety issues are not isolated within our city borders. Therefore, members of the Elmhurst Police Department participate in the "Major Crimes Task Force in DuPage County", which pools resources to investigate very serious crimes. The Elmhurst Police Department also has an officer assigned to "DUMEG", which is a regional drug unit that investigates mid to upper level drug dealers. Members of the Police Department closely cooperate with "BATTLE" which is DuPage County's auto theft investigative unit and the DuPage County Arson Task Force. In order to stay current with training, laws, and trends, the Elmhurst Police Department belongs to the Multi Regional Training Unit, which provides updated and ongoing training for all our officers. Each officer trains at least 40 hours per year to stay current and provide the best possible services to the community.
Since September 11th of 2001, members of the Elmhurst Police Department have been on the forefront of homeland security issues. The Elmhurst Police Department has assessed local security issues and provided training and equipment for all our officers to insure the safety of our residents. The Elmhurst Police Department has also signed a statewide mutual aid pact, which will allow our officers to assist officers anywhere in the State of Illinois if there is a terrorism incident.
I would like to encourage you to visit our Citizens' Police Academy section of our web site. This popular program gives citizens the chance to learn more about the Elmhurst Police Department. The Citizens' Police Academy meets one evening a week for twelve weeks. This program has been very successful in building strong ties between police officers and the citizens they serve.
Thank you for visiting our web site. Many of these programs are explained in further detail as you tour the site.
Steve Neubauer
Chief
The Elmhurst Police Department must be prepared for any situation that may occur within our community. Police officers who are trained to intervene and help people deal with these situations frequently encounter people who are involved in a personal crisis. However, situations occasionally arise that are more serious and may pose a serious threat to either the person involved in the crisis, to other people or other officers.
For this reason, the Elmhurst Police Department has several officers who are specifically trained in "Crisis Intervention or Crisis Negotiations". These officers are called upon when a person in crisis is encountered who may pose a threat to himself or to others. These officers are specifically trained to resolve a crisis by making contact with the person to resolve that situation peacefully. Some common situations that would require the skills of trained crisis negotiators include a person who is trapped in the act of committing a crime, a person involved in a domestic problem, or suicidal persons. Often, persons involved in these incidents are either intoxicated or under the influence of drugs during their crisis and, may have access to a weapon.
Officers who negotiate with these people are caring, dedicated officers who are trained to be good listeners and good communicators. The crisis negotiators are another group of professionals within the Elmhurst Police Department who are dedicated to maintaining the safety of the residents and visitors to the City of Elmhurst.
The Elmhurst Police Department's Emergency Response Team (E.R.T.) was formed in 1981, with the assignment of six patrol officers and one sergeant. The mission of the unit was to train for, and respond to, unusual or high risk situations that are periodically encountered in law enforcement. The training consited of military tactics that were designed for confrontations with armed and hostile individuals or groups. The uniform of the day consisted of combat fatigues and M-16 rifles. Since that time, both the mission and the size of the unit has grown. Today, the unit is comprised of one commander, one sergeant, and eight patrol officers. Specialized equipment has been added to enhance E.R.T.'s ability to conduct narcotic raids, high-risk search warrant execution, rescue operations, barricaded subjects, hostage incidents, suicide threats, and other high-risk situations. Pure military tactics have been replaced by strategies that are more appropriate to the urban environment. A successful mission is one that is resolved swiftly, with the utmost regard for safety and human life. Officers assigned to the team are cross-trained in a variety of areas and are capable of filling any number of roles at a moment's notice. In order to maintain their high level of expertise, the Emergency Response Team trains on a monthly basis, and participates in field training exercises that are taught by some of the nations leading tactical instructors. During all types of training strong emphasis is placed on teamwork, physical fitness, and innovative responses to challenging and unique situations. Additionally, all team members are members of state and national tactical officer's associations and consistently look for ways of staying abreast with the latest tactics and equipment.
Twelve sworn officers and two civilian employees staff the Detective Division of the Elmhurst Police Department. The division is responsible for the follow-up of criminal complaints, proactive vice/narcotic investigations and all juvenile issues. Due to the volume of criminal complaints received, not all cases are assigned for follow-up investigation. Solvability factors are assessed. Cases without leads are held pending additional information. The detective division is divided as follows:
- General Assignment: six detectives are assigned the primary responsibility for investigating incidents such as burglary, robbery, auto theft, battery, fraud, etc.
- Juvenile Division: although all detectives are certified as juvenile officers, one detective has been given the primary responsibility for monitoring juvenile issues and delinquency dispositions. The department also has a civilian social worker that works closely with the detective division to assess and address juvenile and family needs.
- School Resource Officers: three detectives are assigned as school resource officers. Two detectives work at York High School and are available to all high school students as needed. One detective is assigned to work at the middle school level in the same capacity.
- DuPage Metropolitan Enforcement Group (DuMEG): one detective is assigned to the county undercover narcotics unit on a full time basis.
Questions or concerns involving criminal investigations or juvenile issues should be directed to Detective Commander at (630) 530-3074.
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The Elmhurst Police Department Bicycle Patrol Unit originated in 1996 with one officer working alone, using his own bicycle. During the first year, of the program, emphasis was placed on patrolling the more populated areas of town, specifically focusing on the downtown area and increasing the opportunity for contact between police department members and the public. In 1997, two police bicycles were purchased and seven additional officers were added to the unit. During 1997 and 1998, the Bicycle Unit was very visible throughout the city, along the Illinois Prairie Path, in the business and industrial areas, and the city parks. As time went on, the Bicycle Patrol program evolved to include enforcement and public relations. This resulted in several good arrests that were made possible by the quiet and unexpected approach an officer can make while on a bicycle.
In the year 2001, the Bicycle Patrol Unit is again evolving. This time the unit will be used on a daily basis with the officer riding during his regular tour of duty. Two police cars have been equipped with bicycle racks and the officers have begun taking the bicycles with them every day. There are currently two bicycle officers per shift, along with one supervisor. The program seems to be very well received by the community and the officers, and has brought with it new diversity to the Elmhurst Police Department's approach to law enforcement.
The Elmhurst Police Department's Records Division serves as the central civilian support staff for the police department. The division is responsible for quality control and maintenance of all reports generated by department personnel, as well as being responsible for the reporting of crime statistics at both state and federal levels. Division personnel respond to requests from the public, department members, city officials and court officers by providing various copies of reports and information. The Records Division is open from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.
The following is a schedule of available reports upon request and their fees for duplication. Please allow three to five business days from date of incident for processing. Note: If you have filed a claim with your insurance company, they will send a request to our division for a copy of the report.
| C | Accident | a complete copy | Fee: $5.00 |
| C | Theft | copy of the front of report and loss of property reports | $ .50 per page |
| C | Burglary | copy of the front of report and loss of property reports | $ .50 per page |
| C | Criminal Damage | copy of the front of report | $ .50 per page |
Senior citizens and disabled residents will receive copies of police reports free of charge.
Other types of reports, not listed above, need to be requested through the Freedom of Information Act. This process must be initiated at the City Hall located at 209 N. York Road.
The Operations Division is the larger of the two divisions consisting of 108 full and part-time employees. Operations provides essential services to the community in the areas of patrol, traffic and emergency response. These services are available around the clock 365 days per year. All 911 calls are assigned to Operations Division units, which are divided into three primary eight-hour shifts and an additional afternoon shift, which provides extra personnel during peak periods.
In addition to the functions listed above, the Operations Division provides other services to the community. They are as follows:
- Community Oriented Policing Program: This six person unit concentrates on
specific problems which have been identified as community concerns i.e. working to solve neighborhood problems, drug enforcement, gang suppression, and under age drinking. They are able to devote efforts addressing problems, which the beat officer often does not have adequate time to concentrate on.
- Emergency Response Team: The unit is trained to handle situations such as hostage incidents, barricaded suspect incidents, and high risk warrant service.
- Canine Unit: Our canine team consisting of one dog and its handler are accomplished at tracking suspects and in drug detection. This team is in great demand not only by our own department but also by other police departments in the area.
- Part-Time Police Unit: Twelve officers make up the part-time unit. These officers are fully empowered to perform all police functions while on duty and to assist our full-time officers. In addition they patrol the City's parks, shopping districts, and police community events.
- Crossing Guards: They provide traffic assistance to school children at the City's public and private schools.
- Parking Control: The downtown business district, City lots, and parking decks are patrolled and regularly enforced in order to maintain a safe and orderly parking experience for our residents and visitors.
Animal Control: The animal control officer and community service officers provide regulation and control of both domestic and wild animals in the community. These services are available on a 24-hour a day basis.
- Crime Prevention: The division provides a number of programs for the community both in schools and to the public in general. They include DARE, VEGA, SALT
- (Seniors and Lawmen Together), Safety Town Education, business security checks, child safety education, and the Police Explorer Program.
- Special Operations: The Operations Division is responsible for providing police services during special events such as parades, community fests, special celebrations, dignitary protection, or any other unusual event or a natural disaster.
Any requests for the police to respond to an incident whether it is an emergency or a routine response such as animal control should be transmitted by dialing 911. Requests for other department services such as request for a crime prevention program or questions about police services in general can be handled by dialing 630-530-3050.
The Elmhurst Police Department Traffic Unit has been in operation since the early 1980's. It was originally formed to address the increasing problem with Drivers Under the Influence of Alcohol (DUI). Currently, all officers receive specialized training in the detection of DUI drivers and Elmhurst enjoys a reputation for aggressive and strict DUI enforcement.
The Traffic Unit has evolved into a program that addresses all traffic related problems and complaints. 35-40 officers participate in the Traffic Unit. On a daily basis, two to five officers are assigned to specifically address complaints and problem areas, and perform general prevention and traffic enforcement duties. Enforcement examples include speed, sign, reckless/aggressive driving, truck overweight, and DUI enforcement. Side streets have and will continue to be a priority for the Traffic Unit in 2003.
The number one complaint of citizens throughout the nation is speeding and stop sign violations on residential side streets. The fact is the Overwhelming majority of the violators are residents. For this reason, the police department initiated a proactive speed reduction program in 1999. Titled, "It's Our Town, Let's Slow Down," the program has delivered a consistent message to our residents through education and enforcement campaigns. The program has had marked success and will continue to deliver this very important message during 2003.
The traffic unit operates on the theory that three components comprise total traffic safety. These are Enforcement, Engineering and Education. Solving traffic related problems must always take into account all three components. An easy way to imagine this is a three-legged stool analogy with each leg representing a component. Now, imagine what would happen if any one leg was missing; safety fails. Some of the tools used for each component follow:
ENFORCEMENT
Speed radar, squad video cameras, squad computers, motorcycles, bicycles, directed eonforcement to targeted problem areas, DUI Safety Check points, DUI patrols, Operation Safe Passage enforcement during holiday periods, Railroad Crossing enforcement, Truck Overweight and Commercial vehicle enforcement, and violation warning letters.
ENGINEERING
Traffic studies, speed and volume studies, recommendation for sign posting, evaluation of roadway design for new or existing construction, analysis of the most current effective measures that would "calm" or improve traffic flow and safety. For example, one common belief is that stop signs will slow down traffic. Engineering studies prove this to be false. Stop signs provide safe and adequate gaps for vehicles to enter intersections and are poor speed control devices. If unwarranted signs are installed, motorists will often increase speed to "make up for lost time," deliberately ignore the signs, or perform rolling stops. They can also create a false sense of security and often increase crashes.
EDUCATION
"It's Our Town, Let's Slow Down" campaign, Community Oriented Policing traffic program, Cable T.V. messages, Driver's Education classroom presentations, newsletters, two "smart units" (speed trailers to visually display a motorists speed), personal contacts with residents, Newspaper and City of Elmhurst Front Porch articles, Citizen Police Academy presentations, and Safe School walk route plan. The most recent tool is the "Citizen Speed Detection Program". This allows a concerned resident to check out a Radar unit from the police department for a period of time. The purpose of this program is to have concerned resident's assist with the verification of a possible speed problem in their neighborhood and, affords the opportunity to visualize what certain speeds look like.
The traffic unit works closely with the City's Engineering department. A formal process is undertaken to analyze and verify a traffic concern. This will usually involve residents' input. If confirmed, a response to the problem will be initiated. To be certain the problem has been resolved in the best possible manner, a post analysis will usually be conducted.
Did you ever wonder why traffic has become so congested? Generally, automobiles tend to have an adverse effect on the human environment. This has been compounded during recent years with more automobiles per household and more trips per family per day. Here's a profound fact: Since 1975 Traffic on our roadways has doubled and the amount of roadway pavement has only increased by 5%!
For further information about the traffic unit, programs, or questions concerning traffic safety, please contact the Traffic Unit Coordinator at 630-530-3050.
Please Remember, "IT'S OUR TOWN, LET'S SLOW DOWN"
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The Elmhurst Police Department was the first department outside of Chicago to have it own evidence technicians. In 1964, Officers Hoffman and Felbinger were assigned to a one-month long Chicago Crime Lab course. After returning from the course, the officers convinced the police chief to convert one of the squad cars, a 1961 Ford sedan, to a dedicated evidence car. Initially, the officers used their personal camera equipment for documenting crime scenes. The evidence technicians enjoyed early success, clearing a burglary, an officer-involved shooting and the homicide of an infant, all through evidence recovery. Since then, thousands of cases have been resolved through the diligent, and often painstaking, work of the Elmhurst evidence technicians.
The evidence technician unit has grown tremendously over the years in terms of number of personnel assigned levels of expertise, training and equipment. The unit currently consists of fifteen evidence technicians and two supervisors. The evidence technicians train together once a month to stay abreast of the latest in crime scene technology. Many of the evidence technicians have received special certifications in various disciplines of evidence work. Some of the certifications that are currently held by Elmhurst evidence technicians include traffic accident reconstruction, arson investigation, bloodstain pattern analysis, fingerprint analysis and certification in crime scene analysis through the International Association of Identification. Several Elmhurst police evidence technicians have been assigned to the DuPage County Major Crime Task Force, which is now responsible for investigating homicides, kidnappings and serial crimes anywhere in the county. The evidence vehicle has also been updated since the 1961 Ford sedan. Although it is still a Ford, the current evidence vehicle is a four-wheel drive Expedition. The evidence vehicle is equipped with a vast array of equipment including a forensic light source to locate blood, fluids and fingerprints, a laser measuring device, digital still and video camera equipment, and, special chemicals to detect the presence of blood. It is also equipped with many other items that are routinely used in the collection and preservation of evidence.
In addition to the evidence vehicle, the Elmhurst Police evidence technicians have dedicated areas of the police station where they conduct recovery and analysis of evidence. There are two drive-in evidence bays located to the rear of the police station that can be secured and are often used to process vehicles that have either been used in the commission of a crime, or have been the victims of crimes such as stolen autos. The bays are equipped with specialized lighting and other equipment that allows the evidence technicians to conduct in-depth investigations. Another area of the police station that is dedicated to evidence use is the laboratory. The lab is set up to analyze evidence and specialized photography.
In recent years, the police department has been able to obtain DNA evidence from all types of blood, bodily fluids, and other
pieces of evidence. Before DNA samples can be sent off to the Crime Lab, they need to be properly dried, isolated, and packaged.
Also, the evidence technician needs to be careful about cross contamination between victim and suspect samples of evidence. The
forensic drying cabinet allows samples to be properly dried in a safe environment. The machine also has HEPA filters, which help
protect the evidence technician and the environment.
In the photo above, Evidence Technician Bob Miklas prepares a blouse for drying and packaging before sending it to the Crime Lab.
Law Enforcement From The 1800's Into The New Millennium The town's name was changed to Hill Cottage in 1842. It was named after Hill Cottage Tavern, a travelers' rest and stagecoach stop. Three years later the postal authorities reversed the name to "Cottage Hill" because there were too many towns with names that began with "Hill".
The town's name was officially changed to Elmhurst in 1869, as a result of a large planting of elm trees by Thomas B. Bryan. The population of Elmhurst at that time was at 329. Elmhurst still used the services of the DuPage County Sheriff's Department.
The Constable Era By 1880, the population of Elmhurst had grown to 723 mainly due to the displacement of many people by the "Great Chicago Fire". Elmhurst saw a need to organize a police and fire department as morality and values changed, and incorporated as a village in 1882. The first law enforcement officer for Elmhurst was Constable Henry C. Hohmann who was appointed on July 22, 1882. Ordinances were passed which established a foundation for the newly appointed constable. Over the next 19 years Elmhurst would have 9 contables. The name "COP" originally came from Constable On Patrol.
The Constables
The Elmhurst Police Department recently purchased a forensic drying cabinet to assist in evidence
collection. This piece of equipment is the newest addition to the police department's evidence gathering
ability.
Elmhurst was known as the "Town of York" in 1839 and its only form of law was the newly established DuPage county seat of Naperville. There was little need for the DuPage County Sheriff's Department at that time as most of the problems of the era arose from land disputes.
| Henry C. Hohmann Sr. Henry Moeller Louis Rakow Phillip H. Hohmann |
1883 1883 1883 1884 |
Herman Overkamp Otto H. Stange Fred Beckman Ray Koentz |
1888 1888 1889 1889 |
The Marshal Era
The year 1892 saw a change in the title of the Elmhurst law officers from that of "Constable" to "Marshal". Dietrich A. (Dick) Schmidt had the distinction of becoming Elmhurst's first marshal. Schmidt was succeeded by 11 other marshals over the next 32 years, the last being Henry Wolf. During the early years the constables and marshals patrolled Elmhurst on bicycles, horses and on foot. In the event someone should need the marshal, they would have to go to the fire station and ring the fire bell. The marshal would then respond to the fire station along with volunteer fire fighters. It wasn't until 1897 that the marshals received their first form of modern communication when a telephone was installed in the fire station located at 116 Schiller.
The population of Elmhurst increased to 2,360 in 1910 and Elmhurst changed its form of government from a village to that of a city.
Harry Magers was appointed as the city's marshal in 1919 and received a salary of $110 per month. The marshal now had a Henderson motorcycle which he used to patrol the city. A year after his appointment, Harry Magers, while responding to a complaint of "highway me" at York and St. Charles Roads, became the first law enforcement officer in Elmhurst to be shot and killed in the line of duty. Magers' two assailants were later apprehended and sent to prison. During the constable and marshal era Elmhurst was served by only one officer at a time. There were, however, occasions when the city would hire part-time "Special Police" officers who served for short periods of time as the need arose. These Special Police would assist the marshals in the collection of dog license fees and handled other city functions such as July 4th celebration.
The Marshals
| Dick Schmidt August Wirkus E. A. Perry Ed Perry Otto Remmer Herman Trenn Henry C. Hohmann Jr |
1882 1895 1897 1897 1899 1901 1903 |
Herman Trenn Walter H. Uhlhorn Henry C. Hohmann Jr Harry Magers Frank Lloyd Ed Flynn Henry Wolf |
1905 1912 1916 1919 1920 1924 1925 |
The Elmhurst Police Department
Henry A. Wolf was the last marshal for Elmhurst and, in 1925, became the first Chief of Police for the newly established Elmhurst Police Department. The police department consisted of the Chief of Police and four sworn officers. During the first year, the police department had a 50 trunk switchboard installed in the station house and 25 street call boxes. The police officers had use of a motorcycle, but usually patrolled the city on foot and received their assignments via the street call boxes. There was an electric red lantern hanging from a hook at the roof line on the building on the northeast corner of First and York Road which was activated from the police station when the desk officer received a citizen's call for help. The patrol officers would then go to a call box to call the police station. A year later the police department received a Model T Ford squad car and an ambulance patrol wagon.
Police and Fire Commissioners
The population of Elmhurst tripled in 1930 from that of 1920, to 14,055. The police department now had 7 officers. On April 17, 1934, Elmhurst passed an ordinance which created a "Board of Police and Fire Commissioners". Now under civil service laws, the police officers no longer had to fear losing their jobs due to political affiliations. Police officers received a #145 per month salary. It was also during 1934, that Elmhurst received one-way radios which were installed in the two squad cars. Police calls were received by the Elmhurst desk officer, then telephoned to the Chicago Police Department who in turn radioed the assignments to the Elmhurst squad cars. Since the squad cars could only receive the radio assignment, Chicago Police Department had no way of knowing if the squad cars had heard the transmission.
Two-way Radio Communication
By 1939, Elmhurst began experimenting with a two-way radio communications system. The two-way radios, however, weren't installed in the squad cars until 1942 which gave the Elmhurst Police Department the precedence of being the 1st police department in DuPage County, the 3rd in Illinois, the 7th in the United States and the 11th in the world to receive two-way radios. Police officers were now earning $170 per month and worked 11 hour shifts 6 days per week.
On May 20, 1944, the City of Elmhurst established a Civil Service Pension Fund to which the police officers contribute 3% of their salary. The first person to receive a pension was the widow of Officer Albert Nelson in 1945. Police officers' work-hours were reduced to 8 hours per day in 1947; however, they still worked 6 day per week. The police department now had 15 officers.
The population of Elmhurst increased to 21,273 by 1950. The Police Department now had 2 squad cars, a 1941 Packard ambulance, 2 two-wheel motorcycles and a 3-wheel motorcycle. The basic concepts of policing remained much as it had been from the beginning.
The 1960's saw another population expansion to 36,991. Formal basic training was now required of the police officers. A state of the art communication center was added to the police department and the manpower increased to 57 sworn police officers. Civil unrest was prevalent throughout the nation during the decade and riot training and preparedness were the keynotes of the day. Elmhurst Police Officers guarded Senator John Fitzgerald Kennedy during his Democratic rally at York High School prior to his election as President of the United States.
Centralized Communications
During the 1970's Elmhurst annexed almost all of the available land in the area and the population reached 50,547. Elmhurst Police Department now had a compliment of 66 sworn police officers. Discipline is stringent as the department established new police divisions and programs. Hand-held radios are introduced and used in conjunction with the in-car radios. On Thanksgiving Day 1975 the DuComm Communication System began. Elmhurst and several other local police departments formed a centralized communication center located in Wheaton. This move freed-up six sworn police officers from their previous duties in the Elmhurst Communication Center, and returned them to patrol. This is the beginning of the modern-day Police Department.
Presidential Visit
The highlight of this decade was on May 25, 1978 when the Elmhurst Police Department had the honor and distinction of assisting the United States Secret Service during the visit to Elmhurst by President Jimmy Carter.
Imagine the following scenario: Someone uses your name and Social Security number to open credit card accounts. The perpetrator charges services and merchandise on the accounts which all end up in collections. You have no idea this has happened until you apply for a mortgage. Because these ‘bad' accounts show up on your credit report, you don't get the mortgage. Sound farfetched? The FTC receives numerous such complaints, identifying a relatively new type of crime - identity theft - the use of your personal information to commit fraud or theft. The following question/answer discussion is intended to give you the information you need to protect yourself from identity theft.
How can identity thieves get my personal information?
- They steal wallets, purses and mail that may include bank and credit card statements, pre-approved credit offers, telephone calling cards and tax information.
- They rummage through residential or business trash for personal data (credit card receipts, discarded bank statements, pre-approved credit offers, etc.)
- They use personal information you share on the Internet.
- They open new credit card accounts, using your name, date of birth and Social Security number. The delinquent accounts are reported on your credit report.
- They establish wireless or phone service in your name.
- They open a bank account in your name and write bad checks on the account.
- They buy cars by taking out auto loans in your name.
How can I minimize my risk?
Although you may not be able to completely prevent identity theft, there are ways you can minimize your risk by managing your personal information carefully.
- Protect your mail from theft by depositing outgoing mail in post office collection boxes or at the local post office. Remove incoming mail promptly after delivery. Stop mail delivery if you are going to be away from home.
- Minimize the identification information and the number of cards you carry with you to only what you will actually need.
- Keep your Social Security card in a secure place and do not give out your Social Security number unless it is absolutely necessary. Ask to use other types of identifiers whenever possible.
- Never give out personal information on the phone, through the mail or over the Internet unless you have initiated the contact or know with whom you are dealing.
- Tear up or shred your charge receipts, credit offers/applications, insurance forms, physician statements, discarded bank checks or bank statements and expired charge cards.
- Pay attention to your billing cycles. Follow up with creditors if your bills do not arrive on time.
What should I do if I become a victim of identity theft?
If you suspect that your personal information has been used to commit fraud or theft, take the following steps immediately and keep a record of your conversations and correspondence.
- First, contact the fraud departments of each of the three major credit bureaus: 1) Equifax, P. O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241, 800-525-6285, 2) Experian, P. O. Box 949, Allen, TX 75013-0949, 888-397-3742, 3) Trans Union, Fraud Victim Assistance Division, P. O. Box 6790, Fullerton, CA 92834, 800-680-7289
- Second, contact the creditors of any accounts (credit card companies, phone companies or other utilities, banks or other lenders) that have been tampered with or opened fraudulently. Immediately close accounts that have been tampered with and open new ones with new personal identification numbers (PINs) and passwords. When selecting a PIN or password avoid using readily available information, such as your mother's maiden name, your birth date, the last four digits of your Social Security number or phone number, or a series of consecutive numbers.
- Third, file a report with your local police or the police in the community where the identity theft took place. Request a copy of the police report to help you deal with creditors.
If you need additional information about identity theft, contact the Elmhurst Police Department at (630) 530-3050 and ask for the Detective Division.
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