Western Springs Index Crime Down 44 Percent in 2011

The Village of Western Springs saw only 61 incidents of index crime last year, a 44 percent drop from 108 incidents in 2010, and the lowest number by far in over a decade, according to the annual report for 2011.

Burglaries were down to only nine, from between 21 and 28 each year from 2006 to 2010. Theft reports dropped to just 50, from between 74 and 112 in those previous five years. There was one report of aggravated battery/assault and of one motor vehicle theft.

No murder/manslaughter, criminal sexual assault, robbery or arson incidents were reported in the Village in 2011.

The total number of traffic accidents also decreased 18 percent to 228, a number which Chief Pam Church wrote she was “extremely pleased to report,” as it represents the fourth consecutive year of decline in crash numbers.

“This downward trend can be attributed to our Department’s commitment to traffic safety, education and proactive enforcement efforts,” Church wrote in a letter to the Village Board of Trustees.

Other noteworthy statistics from the 2011 report include:

• The Department received a total of 13,334 complaints in 2011—3,930 “911” complaints and 902 alarms—and collected approximately $196,500 in fines.

• 16 arrests were made for DUI (a 39 percent drop,) with offenders averaging a BAC of 0.17. The highest recorded BAC was 0.25.

• For moving violations, WSPD officers issued 2,884 local ordinance citations, 1,813 state citations and 2,112 warning notices.

• The Western Springs Juvenile Peer Jury heard 14 new cases with a total of 20 charges, including a Class 2 Felony case for possession of a stolen vehicle.

• Of 13 complaints filed against Department officers in 2011, seven were sustained and resulted in disciplinary action, including one suspension.

Notable awards received by Department members in 2011 included:

• Officer Terry Madler received a Life Saving Award for on the 3800 block of Grove Avenue after the house caught fire in April, potentially saving the family members’ lives.

• Telecommunicator Shaun O’Connor received a Meritorious Service Award for preventing a potential suicide in June; having received a call that a young female resident had intentionally drank bleach, O’Connor used the woman’s name to locate her address and dispatch an officer, who found her gasping for breath and was able to help save her life.

• Commendatory Certificates were issued to Lt. David Dayhoff, Sgt. Mark Battista, Sgt. John Piest, Investigator Phil CoChirco, Officer Terry Madler, Officer Jaclyn Mroz and Officer Ken Lena (for professional response to and investigation into the ,) Officer Dean Harrison, Mroz, LoChirco and La Grange Park officer Jennifer Wilk (for a man accused of stealing a car from a Westchester parking lot,) Officer Roger Jage (for using a local bank account to help track down a potentially suicidal man, who was voluntarily committed for psychiatric help,) Mroz (for assisting Madler in the aforementioned home evacuation,) Telecommunicator Valerie Lawson (for professional response to a call from Burr Ridge reporting a shooting; the call was later determined to be a hoax,) and Telecommunicator Kelly Vabro (for assisting O’Connor in the aforementioned suicide prevention effort.)

• Certificates of Recognition were awarded to Officer Daniel Albrecht (for investigating a fake Facebook page defaming a WSPD member, and identifying the page's creators,) Lena (for using information from a traffic stop to assist the Brookfield Police Department in obtaining a search warrant that resulted in the seizure of 10g of cocaine and $700) and Telecommunicator Barb Drobney (for exceptional effort in the search for a man who was .)

• Educational Achievement Awards were issued to Deputy Chief Brian Budds (Masters of Science in Public Safety Administration, Lewis University) and O’Connor (Masters of Science in Public Safety Administration, Lewis University.)

• Special Enforcement Awards were issued to Officer James Ashmore (DUI Enforcement, Seat Belt Enforcement, Child Safety Seat Enforcement,) Officer Michael Belcastro (DUI Enforcement) and Lena (Speed Enforcement.)

• External awards were received by Church (,) Officer Danielle Stevens (,) Albrecht and LoChirco (Certificates of Appreciation from the Indian Head Park Police Department for assistance in the investigation in the ,) and Piest and Belcastro (Alliance Against Intoxicated Motorists recognition for DUI enforcement.)

• The Department itself took first prize in the “11-25 Officers” category in the Traffic Safety Challenges of the International Association of Chiefs of Police and the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police, and received a special IACP distinction for bicycle and pedestrian safety.