Palos Park Police Chief

Palos Park Police Department Information Winter 2011/2012 Dear Palos Park Resident: At this time of year we look to develop our operating budget for next year and evaluate our process and programs in an effort to continue and improve on our high level of public safety services. We focus on input and information obtained through internal and external sources and resources in our search to better utilize field staff and work smarter. Once again this winter, we will be holding our yearly disaster table top training session as well as our department strategic planning sessions with our staff.
Police Chief , Joe Miller
We operate in new era for government: budget deficits, budget cuts and an economy that is sluggish and slow to rebound. These are the realities of a trend that will continue - especially in the public sector. To that end we have built strong public–private partnerships and sought alternative funding strategies. Almost half of our vehicle fleet consists of donated vehicles which have been secured, fully equipped and used at a significant savings to the Village. Additionally, we offset cost by utilizing funds realized from our partnership with the United States D.E.A. We have found great success in our programs based on volunteer, community group, and academic partnerships operating on the premise of utilizing volunteers and volunteer programs as critical additional community assets. Ours is a full service law enforcement agency with twenty-nine sworn officers who patrol the village twenty-four hours a day, seven days each week. We staff our field officers predicated on peak days and times when we need the most staff available. In late 2011, we promoted Officer Chris Hughes to patrol sergeant and welcomed Ross Chibe as a full time officer. Officer Diana Campbell was appointed to oversee all patrol officer field training. Here are some of the programs we offer: child safety fingerprinting & car seat inspections; a Police Cadet program for teens that are interested in law enforcement; an Emergency Service and Disaster Agency (E.S.D.A.); Vacation Home Watch program; Home Safety checks; the “You are Not Alone” program for senior well-being checks; and the File For Life program. Additionally we offer a Senior Safety I.D. Bracelet program and a volunteer Citizen on Patrol Service (COPS). We work very closely with the Orland Park and Palos Heights Police Departments in an effort to jointly solve crime issues in our area. We also train jointly with their officers. We are part of the Southwest Suburban Major Case Unit and the South Suburban Major Crimes Task Force, which allow us access to multiple resources not typically found in other small departments. For more information about our programs, please visit our web-site at www.palospark.org. Should you have any comments, concerns, complaints, or suggestions, please feel free to call Chief Miller at 708-671-3770 or e-mail him at jmiller@palospark.org. Dan Polk’s cell number is 708-846-1998 and e-mail is dpolk@palospark.org. On behalf of Public Health and Safety Commissioner Dan Polk, MD and everyone at the Palos Park Police Department, we encourage you to express your thoughts to us. Please also consider filing out the 2011 Community Service survey which is available through the Village Website or at the Kaptur Administrative Center through January 31, 2012. We cannot improve our level of service without your input! Dan Polk, Police Commissioner Joe Miller, Chief of Police



Palos Park Police Chief Joe Miller - Biography Palos Park Police Chief Joe Miller began his career in policing while still in high school. In the late 1970’s he became a police cadet and attained the rank of Cadet Captain. After graduating from Brother Rice High School in Chicago, Joe worked for the Chicago Police Department in their Data Systems Unit. While attending college, Joe started as a dispatcher with the Orland Park Police Department and became an Orland Park officer in the early 1980’s. Joe attended recruit training at the Cook County Sheriff’s Academy. During his career Joe has worked as a Juvenile officer, Truck Enforcement officer, Arson investigator, detective, patrol sergeant, lieutenant, commander and deputy chief. In the summer of 1992 Joe became the Chief of Police in Orland Hills, Illinois where he served for six years. Joe holds a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal-Social Justice from Lewis University in Romeoville, Illinois, a Master of Science in Criminal Justice from Lewis University and a Master of Business Administration from Saint Xavier University in Chicago. He is a graduate of the Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command, Northwester’s Executive Management Program, the F.B.I.’s Law Enforcement Executive Development program, DePaul University’s Human Resource Management program and the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University’s Executive Management training. Joe currently teaches criminology and management courses at Moraine Valley Community College in Palos Hills, IL and Lewis University in Romeoville, IL. Joe is the past president of the 5th District Police Chiefs Association and past president of the Greater Cook County Council of Police Chiefs. Joe just completed the ten month Northwestern University Center for Public Safety Senior Management Leadership Program and is enrolled in The Naval Postgraduate School Center for Homeland Defense and Security courses designed for homeland defense and security professionals who wish to enhance their understanding of key homeland security concepts.