'Hard-Charging, Elite' Crime Suppression Unit Takes To Tinley Streets

TINLEY PARK, IL — A team of police officers dedicated to street crime suppression has been deployed in Tinley Park, and Mayor Mike Glotz has called the concept an early success just days after its implementation.

The team—formed through a thorough selection process—was formed after Village officials approved it in the new budget. The unit of four officers and a sergeant began its shifts Aug. 9, notching several key arrests since, Glotz told Patch.

The team in its first days conducted 25 traffic stops, also recovering two guns among a total of 11 arrests. The unit issued 16 Cook County citations, and seven administrative citations. Four vehicles were towed, and 100 grams of cannabis were seized. Four surveillance operations were run, as well, Glotz said.

Arrests included driving on a revoked license, unlawful use of a weapon, failure to appear, unlawful possession of cannabis and tobacco, driving while license suspended. Another arrest involved apprehension of a domestic battery suspect, Glotz said.

"As you know, since becoming Mayor, the safety of our residents has always been #1," Glotz said during a meeting this week. "Myself, the Board of Trustees, the Village Manager, the Assistant Village Manager, Police Chief Walsh, Deputy Chief Rafferty, Deputy Chief Tilton, and Commander Poulos have had lengthy discussions that we are going to hire more police officers within the next 4 years than the Village has ever done.

"Collaboratively, our board, staff, and the Police Command Staff have worked together to HIRE 29 officers since May 1, 2019. We still are not done. We are hiring more."

All members of the street crime suppression unit were current police officers within the department who applied for this unit; the team is led by a former patrol sergeant. That sergeant's position was backfilled from within the department, Village Manager Pat Carr said. In total, the unit included the cost of two officers and one sergeant.

Glotz said he and police leadership are pleased with the early results of the specialized unit.

"We could have never expected them to work so well together in such a short time of being a team," Glotz said. "It will only get better."