Expect More Police At Stores, Malls: Orland, Tinley Police Chiefs

ORLAND PARK, IL — Shoppers can expect additional police presence in Tinley Park and Orland Park stores and shopping centers, one measure police chiefs from both towns said they've implemented to increase safety for prime holiday shopping.

At a Dec. 12 public safety forum moderated by Orland Township Supervisor Paul O'Grady and with panelists mayors Keith Pekau and Michael Glotz, police chiefs Eric Rossi and Thomas Tilton, as well as Cook County Commissioner Sean Morrison, officials talked crime rates and trends, steps taken to combat crime and measures in place to keep people safe. The session was live-streamed for those who couldn't attend.

Rossi and Tilton stressed increased patrols—both uniformed and in plain clothes—are in place at shopping centers like Orland Square Mall and Brookside Marketplace, both large draws for shoppers.

"We have a different look every time," said Tinley Park Police Chief Thomas Tilton. "People come to shop, we want you to see us in a high visibility role, and we want everybody to feel comfortable going into our stores."

Orland Park Police Chief Eric Rossi said efforts made to curb crime at Orland Square Mall, especially, have seen results.

"There’s somebody in Orland Square Mall from open to close, every single day," Rossi said, adding that a youth supervision policy set in place for weekends has also supplemented police efforts. Tactical Response Units—also known as TRU—have also been crucial in crime suppression, including removing illegal guns from the street, Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau said.

With roughly 80 people in attendance, police leaders cautioned shoppers to be vigilant as they go about checking items off their list.

"Keep your head on a swivel," Rossi said.

Shoppers should keep purchases out of sight, stowing them in trunks instead of within view through car windows.

"They’re going to break your window," Rossi said, "We’ve seen it happen. Keep it in your trunk."

Rossi, who's been with the department for 20 years, said their approach to crime prevention develops more each year. Rossi meets weekly with mall officials, starting in early November, to formulate a plan and check in on its execution.

"We learn every year what we could do better," Rossi said.

Other safety tips included parking in well-lit areas, and shopping with a companion.

Tilton said that while violent crimes in Tinley Park aren't numerous, theft numbers—commercial theft as from retail stores and auto theft—are on the rise. That's also the case in Orland Park, Pekau said. Both linked it to the SAFE-T Act, which eliminated cash bail. There “are just no ramifications for these petty thefts whatsoever," Pekau said.

"We’re doing everything we can to be as aggressive as we can," Tilton said.

License plate readers have also been key in catching criminals, both chiefs said. Tinley Park Mayor Michael Glotz pointed to the plate readers as essential to making quick arrests after an attempted armed robbery of a 72-year-old woman outside a Tinley Park Jewel earlier this month.

"We’ve been able to track them, and find these guys a lot," Glotz said.

Rossi stressed his department's use of Fusus, a newly implemented tool that uses a network of security camera footage from residents and businesses for use by authorities. The program "is designed to leverage the existing network of security cameras throughout the community, enabling law enforcement to access real-time video footage in the event of an incident," the Village said earlier.

"If there’s a crime that occurs in your subdivision, we’ll know that you have a camera on your house … we’ll know where the cameras are, that will help us get the information quicker," Rossi said.

The department is in planning stages to bring cameras at Consolidated District 230 and Orland District 135 schools into the Fusus network, Rossi added.

Tilton said Tinley Park intends to implement the same system on a trial basis in coming months.

Business owners can take steps to help police combat theft, as well.

"Take advantage of the opportunities that you have to install cameras, install lighting, harden your store so it makes it more difficult," Tilton said.

Smart merchandise placement—placing the most expensive displays toward the backs of the stores—can also buy police valuable time as a crime is occurring, he said.

"We want it to take longer," Tilton said, of any plan a thief tries, "so we have an opportunity to stop it or prevent it."

Both police chiefs said shoppers should feel comfortable turning to officers they see near them.

"We’ve got really good police officers who want to help you," Tilton said.

Locally, groups like Tinley Park's recently built Street Crime Suppression Unit, provide focused, specialized support for everyday police operations, Tilton said. Cooperation between the Orland and Tinley Park departments is also crucial in crime prevention efforts, both chiefs said. The departments work together to patrol the 159th Street corridor, which stretches between the two towns and is a major link to north-south roadways.

"Most importantly, it’s relationships," Glotz said. "If it wasn’t for the relationship of Tinley and Orland Park policing 159th the way they do—they work extremely well, they partner well.

"...Working together when another team needs help—our police help them, they help us. We keep an eye out if someone sees something—see something, say something."