Suburban Leaders Collaborate In 2nd Public Safety Forum

Editor’s note: The original date of this event was set as Dec. 3. Patch was not aware of the change until Dec. 3.

ORLAND PARK, IL — The Village of Orland Park, Village of Tinley Park and the Office of Cook County Commissioner Sean Morrison are pleased to announce the return of the Southwest Suburban Public Safety Forum. Building on the success of 2023’s meeting, the event aims to bring together community members, experts and local leaders to discuss pressing issues and enhance regional public safety efforts.

The meeting will take place on Wednesday, December 4 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Orland Park Civic Center, located at 14750 S. Ravinia Ave. in Orland Park. Moderated by Cook County Commissioner Sean Morrison, the panel of speakers includes Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau, Tinley Park Mayor Michael Glotz, Orland Park Police Chief Eric Rossi and Tinley Park Police Chief Thomas Tilton.

“I’m looking forward to gathering with a shared purpose—to address pressing issues that affect the safety and well-being of our communities,” said Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau. “This year’s topic, Keeping Retailers and Residents Safe in the Southwest Suburbs, aims to shine a light on the efforts our agencies are making to protect our communities.”

Cook County Commissioner Sean M. Morrison adds, “Residents and local officials alike continue to inform me that public safety and the proliferation of organized retail theft remains a worry to people in the Southwest Suburbs. I anticipate a full and productive meeting as we pool our resources to address the questions and concerns of our communities around this topic.”

During the event, attendees will have the opportunity to address their concerns and submit questions to the panel. Questions can be submitted by texting them to the forum organizers through an on-site QR code.

The panel will address as many questions as possible within the allotted meeting time. The topics to be discussed include an overview of crime rates and trends in the region, strategies to address these trends and measures in place to ensure the safety of local shoppers and visitors during the holiday shopping season.

“Meetings like this not only give our public safety teams a chance to collaborate and share ideas, but offer residents a forum to provide feedback and get valuable information on an issue that is of paramount importance to them,” Tinley Park Mayor Michael Glotz said. “Everyone is invited to come out and join us as we discuss strategies and initiatives that will enhance public safety and make our communities safer for everyone.”

The organizers of the Safety Meeting encourage all residents of the Southwest Suburban area to attend and actively participate in this important discussion. The event will also be livestreamed via the Village of Orland Park YouTube channel at YouTube.com/@Villageoforlandpark.

For more information about the Southwest Suburban Public Safety Forum, please email safetyforum@orlandpark.org.