2021 Police Annual Report_v5 (1)

no homicide or rape incidents. This is a testament to the hard work and dedication of each member of the Orland Park Police Department and our strong relationship with the private sector and commitment to work collaboratively in protecting persons and businesses against crime. This significant achievement is equally remarkable when considering that in 2020, retail businesses and malls throughout Orland Park were ordered closed for 10 weeks by a Governor’s Executive Order. In 2021 with no mandated closings and continuing to remain open, the incidents of theft still decreased by almost 11%. This decrease is directly attributable to a joint effort by Simon Properties and the Orland Park Police Department to implement the Orland Square Mall Youth Supervision Program (YSP) which curbs crime and behavioral misconduct by unaccompanied juveniles at the mall. There were no incidents of retail theft or code of conduct violations during the execution of this first of its kind program in the Simon Properties portfolio. Additional benefits associated with the YSP are that, when compared to 2019 data, the 2021 sales receipts at Orland Square Mall rose by 3% and the dwell time, or amount of time that shoppers spent on average inside the mall, increased by approximately 5.5%. As in past years, the Department’s 2021 clearance rates on violent crimes far surpassed the FBI’s calculated National and Midwest Clearance averages. Additionally, as further evidence of the outstanding proactive work of the men and women of the Department, the website “MoneyGeek” analyzed crime statistics by quantifying the cost of crime in ranking small cities and towns across the entire nation and determined that the Village of Orland Park is the 8th safest small town in the United States. The year of 2021, was certainly not without its challenges. The Orland Park Police Department, along with police departments throughout the nation, continued to struggle to find qualified candidates to enter the noble profession of law enforcement. In addition, the number of firearm arrests continued to climb substantially as the Department increased the resources allocated to tactical positions.

MESSAGE FROM THE CHIEF OF POLICE

Mayor Pekau, Trustees, Village Manager and the Residents of Orland Park,

Although COVID-19 again dominated in 2021, and the Orland Park Police Department had to adjust to “the new world,” we did so while continuing to remain steadfast in our commitment to our core mission of protecting the safety of the residents, visitors and businesses of Orland Park. While facing the considerable risk of contracting COVID-19 with its more contagious variants, our spirited employees continued to serve the Village of Orland Park with professionalism and dedication. The 2021 Annual Report provides a summary that is the evidence of that dedication. Despite the constant challenges that we faced throughout the year relating to a global pandemic, political discourse towards law enforcement and the national movement to defund the police, the men and women of the Orland Park Police Department valiantly fulfilled its mission of protecting the community. Provided below are just a few of the many noteworthy accomplishments of the Orland Park Police Department in 2021, which are highlighted throughout the annual report. As property and violent crime rose to record levels throughout the Chicagoland area, by contrast, crime in the Village of Orland Park fell to the lowest number of index crimes in 27 years with an overall 9.2% decrease when compared to the 2020 crime statistics. Violent crime also fell by 24% with

I would like to thank Former Police Chief Joseph Mitchell for his years of 27 years of dedicated service to the Village of Orland Park. We wish you the best of luck as you move toward your future endeavors.

In conclusion, I would like to thank all members of the Orland Park Police Department for the tireless and exceptional work they performed throughout the year despite all the challenges that 2021 presented. Finally, thank you to our elected officials for your continuous and unwavering support that ensures the Orland Park Police Department has the resources to address the public safety needs of our supportive and cherished community.

Sincerely,

Eric Rossi Chief of Police

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