Darien Cops On Street? Officials Debate Issue

DARIEN, IL – Two Darien aldermen on Monday pushed charging fees to stores such as Walmart after police respond to retail thefts a certain number of times.

They said this may help ensure officers are on the street more often.

At a City Council meeting, Alderman Eric Gustafson said his research has shown that a Pennsylvania town charges $250 per retail theft case after 10 calls a month.

A Wisconsin town, meanwhile, assesses $500 per call after more than 20 a month, he said.

Alderman Tom Chlystek said he liked the idea of fees.

He said residents have told him they see less of police officers. That is happening while the city is seeing a spike in retail thefts, he said.

"Whatever time a police officer is off the street, residents don't see him. They don't feel secure from time to time," Chlystek said.

But Alderman Joseph Kenny said residents may have the wrong perception. He said that after he was elected, he went on ride-alongs with police officers. Shortly after one of them, he said a resident told him officers never go past his house.

"I said that wasn't true," Kenny said. "He said, 'How can you say that?' I go, 'I know for a fact that a police car went by your house three times in an eight-hour shift on Friday night.'"

By Kenny's account, the resident was puzzled until the alderman told him that he was on a ride-along. Kenny said residents may not see the squad cars going by because they're not looking.

"But the police are through our neighborhoods more than we think they are," he said.

Chlystek said he understood Kenny's point, but he said everyone has cameras now.

"Not only do we catch the bad guys, but we catch when we don't see police going down the street," he said. "It works both ways.