Palos Park Police Officer Takes Leave to Walk for Breast Cancer

Palos Park Police Officer Maripat Pawlowski will be taking a week off from her duties in August 2008 to take part in the (60) sixty mile Breast Cancer 3-Day.

Each participant has their own reason for walking in the three day event. Officer Pawlowski, like the many other participants, has her own reason for walking, her mother Patti.

When Pawlowski was twelve years old, her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. As she watched her mother suffer through radiation and chemotherapy, many tears were cried and she also pondered questions such as why my mom, why us, will she be there for my college graduation, or my wedding?

Today Pawlowski’s mother Patti is a cancer survivor and Pawlowski will walk, not only for her mom, but for all the souls affected by the fight against breast cancer and the goal to provide hope to future mothers, daughters, sisters and best friends.

To support officer Pawlowski or make a donation, simply go to WWW.THE3DAY.ORG and type in MARIPAT PAWLOWSKI.

An estimated 40,460 women and 450 men will die from breast cancer in 2008.

PALOS PARK POLICE RECRUIT SENIORS TO ASSIST WITH BASIC CLERICAL DUTIES

PALOS PARK POLICE COMMISSIONER DAN POLK HAS ANNOUNCED THAT THE PALOS PARK POLICE DEPARTMENT IS AGAIN RECRUITING SENIOR CITIZENS, WHO ARE RESIDENTS OF THE VILLAGE, TO VOLUNTEER THEIR FREE TIME DURING THE DAY.

THE SENIORS WOULD ASSIST THE DEPARTMENT’S SUPPORT STAFF AND THE COMMUNITY BY WORKING WITH CLERICAL STAFF ON VARIOUS COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAMS, SENIOR SAFETY INITIATIVES AND RECEPTION/CLERICAL DUTIES.

COMMISSIONER POLK SAID, “ PALOS PARK IS HOME TO A MANY SENIORS WHO ARE RETIRED AND CAN OFFER A WEALTH OF EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE THE DEPARTMENT CAN TAP INTO AND UTILIZE TO THE BETTERMENT OF PALOS PARK.”

THOSE SENIORS INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING AND VOLUNTEERING FOUR OR FIVE HOURS PER WEEK TO ASSIST THE DEPARTMENT, ARE ENCOURAGED TO GET INVOLVED WITH THE DEPARTMENT BY WORKING ON VARIOUS ADMINISTRATIVE AND SUPPORT ASSIGNMENTS.

A TRAINING PROGRAM WILL COMMENCE IN EARLY SUMMER TO ACCLIMATE THE SENIORS TO THE SUPPORT SERVICES SECTION OF THE DEPARTMENT, FAMILIARIZE THEM WITH COMMUNITY SERVICE INITIATIVES AND PROTOCOL AND LEARN ABOUT THE OPERATION OF THEIR POLICE DEPARTMENT.

CHIEF JOE MILLER SAID, “THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM IS TO PROVIDE SENIORS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE BACK TO THEIR COMMUNITY AND OBTAIN A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF A POLICE AGENCY’S ROLE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.”

Palos Park Police Department team up with local church to equip its patrol cars with stuffed animals

Palos Park Police Department officers are participating in the Stuffed Animals for Emergencies program (SAFE) thanks to the Palos Park Church of the Transfiguration.

Palos Park Police Commissioner Dan Polk has expressed his gratitude to the Church of the Transfiguration for their generous donation of forty-five stuffed animals, which will be kept in patrol cars and given to small children involved in stressful situations, accidents, domestic, disputes, medical emergences, etc... .

The stuffed animals serve to calm the child and reassure them that the police care about them. The program provides an opportunity for the officers to hand a child a teddy bear and offer them some hope and warmth. Police chief Joe Miller said "It is a small token, but a very large gift in the eyes of a child."

Palos Park Police Start New Year with Academic Partners!

Palos Park Police Commissioner Dan Polk has announced that the Palos Park Police Department will partner with three universities and one high school in 2008 to expand the department’s Internship Program.

Starting in January 2008 the Palos Park Police Department will welcome three college interns from three academic partners, Lewis University, The University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) and Loras College in Iowa, the newest academic partner. A senior from Chicago Christian High School is also serving as an intern with the Palos Park Police Department in the spring 2008 semester.

The academic partnerships offer seniors the opportunity to spend a semester working in a real public safety agency. College interns spend a semester working with the Palos Park Police Department in three distinct sections of the organization, Patrol, Administration and Investigations. Interns earn college credit while gaining the experience associated with working in a real public service agency and seeing how day to day operations work.

Chief Joe Miller said, “Interns learn everything from how to order uniforms, pay the gasoline bills for patrol cars, keeping officers trained and current, as well as how the police function in a free society.”

The academic partnerships were started several years ago as way to team up with academia and stay current with the ever changing trends in policing.

Chief Joe Miller serves as a professor in Lewis University’s Public Safety and Policy programs and at Moraine Valley Community College.

PALOS PARK POLICE AWARD THEIR FIRST CADET SCHOLARSHIP

Palos Park Police Commissioner Dan Polk has announced that Palos Park Police Department Cadet Sergeant Mervet Akroush of Orland Park will be the first cadet to receive a cadet scholarship. Mervet has been an active member of the cadet program for about four years.

The cadet scholarship program was started three years ago by the Palos Park Police Department Citizens on Patrol Service (C.O.P.S.) under Mayor John Mahoney, former police commissioner. Since that time, the C.O.P.S. has accrued over eight hundred dollars toward the scholarship, mostly at the annual “Taste of Palos” where they sell corn. The Scholarship fund is for current Palos Park Police Department Cadets, who are pursuing a degree in criminal justice.

The Palos Park Police Department Cadet Program was started in 1999 as an avenue for teens who are interested in law enforcement.

PALOS PARK POLICE OFFICERS TO RECEIVE SHERIFF’S AWARDS

PALOS PARK POLICE COMMISSIONER DAN POLK HAS ANNOUNCED THAT TWO PALOS PARK POLICE OFFICERS WILL

BE RECEIVING THE COOK COUNTY “SHERIFF’S AWARD OF MERIT” ON WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 17, 2007.

PALOS PARK POLICE OFFICER FRED VILLANUEVA AND RON PHILPOT WILL BE HONORED BY SHERIFF DART FOR THEIR COMMITMENT AND DEDICATION TO PROVIDING THE EQUESTRIAN COMPONENT PROVIDED TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY’S THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.

COMMISSIONER POLK SAID, “BOTH OF THESE OFFICERS EXEMPLIFY AND MIRROR WHAT IT IS WE LOOK FOR IN PALOS PARK POLICE OFFICERS. THEY ARE A CUT ABOVE!”

Palos Park Police Department Utilizes Rolling /Outdoor Roll Calls

Palos Park Police Commissioner Dan Polk has announced that during the summer and fall months, Palos Park Police officers will be taking part in outdoor and rolling rolls calls for the officers working patrol.

The premise of the program is to utilize a public setting and enhance visibility during the down time officers spend exchanging information and designating assignments.

Palos Park Police Department officers work twelve (12) hours shifts and during that twelve hours shift, they may conduct several roll calls to cover a wide array of information, training material and equipment checks. The outdoor or rolling roll calls will keep officers out on the street and increase their presence, instead of this down time taking place at the police station.

The outdoor / rolling roll calls will take place throughout the village at various times during a twenty four cycle.

Palos Park Resident Supports the Palos Park Police Department Bike Unit

Palos Park Police Commissioner Dan Polk has announced that new Palos Park resident Mike Flamburis a current Orland Park Police Sergeant, along with Brian Sord, owner of the Orland Park restaurant 94 West, have donated three (3) state of the art Smith and Wesson police patrol bicycle to the Palos Park Police Department.

The Palos Park Police Department Bike Unit has been in existence since 2000 and during the summer and fall season, officers patrol the village on bicycle. The Bike Unit currently uses two (2) bicycles that were purchased when the bike unit originally started in 2000.

The new Smith and Wesson Police Patrol Bicycles provide for a great deal more maneuverability, they are light weight and much more comfortable to ride for extended periods than the older version.

With the addition and update of the new patrol bicycles, the Palos Park Police Department will expand their bike unit with the ability of greater mobility. Bike racks will be added to the fleet, so officers can utilize the bicycles off and on during the course of their shift.

Chief Joe Miller said, “We have had an increase in the number of officers interested in participating in the bike patrol since we received the new Smith and Wesson bicycles, which in turn gives us the ability to patrol more areas on bicycle. We are very thankful to Mike Falmburis and Brian Sord for their generous donations”

Palos Park Police Department Officers Honored by Alliance Against Intoxicated Motorist

Palos Park Police Commissioner Dan Polk has announced that Palos Park Police Officers Tony Loiacono and Sergeant John Sawyer have been awarded Certificate of Appreciation, in recognition of their life saving efforts through DUI enforcement.

“Every year hundreds of people are killed and thousands severely injured as a result of alcohol and drug related crashes in Illinois. It takes only seconds to become a victim, without warning or choice. Impaired driver make choices. They chose their weapons, vehicles and alcohol or drug.”

AAIM pledges to continue their fight against impaired driving!

Commissioner Polk commended the officers and the members so the Palos Park Police Department for their continuous efforts to remove impaired drivers form our roadways.

PALOS PARK EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DIRECTOR RECEIVES AWARD

Palos Park Police Commissioner John Mahoney is proud to announce that Palos Park’s Emergency Management Director Bernie Conboy, has received the Cook County Sheriff’s Award of Merit for his work and dedication in the oversight and development of the Village of Palos Park emergency planning and disaster management agency.

Bernie has served as EMA Director since the death of long time EMA Director Jack Leddin 2 years ago. Bernie has a long and distinguished career in public service, serving as an Orland Park police officer and Oak Forest Hospital police officer. Bernie currently serves as the Assistant Director of the Orland Park EMA. Commissioner Mahoney said, “Bernie has been at the forefront of helping prepare, plan and formulate multi-jurisdictional Emergency Management Agency responses for our staff and community. Recently, Bernie spent hours preparing a day long table top disaster drill for Palos Park staff members, running them through a myriad of terrorist, natural and man-made disaster scenarios.”