Winnetka Contracts Private Security To Support Understaffed Police

WINNETKA, IL — The Village of Winnetka contracted a private security agency to help support the Winnetka Police Department amid a national hiring crisis.

According to officials, the Village temporarily contracted P4 Security Solutions to provide enhanced community monitoring while the Winnetka Police Department is understaffed. Community members will begin to see the security officers in the community starting April 1.

Nationwide, law enforcement agencies are facing significant hiring challenges and many operate understaffed. According to an International Association of Chiefs of Police survey, about 78 percent of responding agencies reported it was difficult to recruit qualified candidates.

"If the loss of police officers and employees continues, along with a lack of hiring, agencies will continue to take on more strain at both the organizational and individual levels. As vacancy numbers increase, officers become overworked and burned out," the IACP said.

P4 Security Solutions' main function in Winnetka will be to observe, detect and report suspicious activity to Winnetka police officers. Security officers will travel in clearly marked cars that differentiate them from Winnetka police squad cars.

the company's staff consists of off-duty law enforcement officers who posses the knowledge, training and experience to provide support to police, village officials said. The staff patrolling in Winnetka will be a consistent roster of people familiar with the area.

With the temporary contract, the village aims to reduce the strain on Winnetka police officers.

"The contract with P4 Security Solutions will allow the Winnetka Police Department to continue to provide exceptional service to our community while prioritizing the recruitment of new police officers," the Winnetka Police Department said in a statement. "The hiring of qualified officers is a lengthy process which can take 10 months to one year."