Theft, Traffic Enforcement Continues to Keep Forest Park Policemen Busy

Traffic citations continue to be the issue that keeps Forest Park police busy, according to the bi-monthly statistics presented Monday to commissioners.

In July and August, police issued 445 traffic tickets for driving without headlights, driving without a license, driving without wearing a seatbelt and other offenses. Officers also made eight DUI arrests and 19 for driving on a suspended or revoked license.  

Traffic enforcement is one of the every-day duties for police, Deputy Chief Tom Aftanas said. When is that responsibility the busiest for police?

"The 3-11 shift, call-wise," he said. "People are getting off work at 5-6, there's an increase in the amount of traffic and that causes more accidents. There are more domestics during that time. Those are theories."

In addition, officers wrote 123 criminal complaints, made 32 felony arrests and 68 misdemeanor arrests.

Thefts also kept officers busy over the past two months, with 127 incidents reported. Walmart, KMart and the CVS Pharmacy at Circle and Harlem avenues were top targets of thieves, Aftanas said.

CVS keeps police busy because thieves can pick up stuff and catch a Green Line train, which is just across the street, Aftanas said. Large stores have full- time security and are constantly looking for shoplifters.

"With aggressive security, they can catch more violators," he said.

Burglaries logged the second highest total of offenses with 18 during the reporting period. There was one arson in August; details could not be provided.

Approximately 63 arrests were made for theft, one for burglary over the reporting period.

Police also made 10 arrests for possession of cannabis, six for possession of other substances such as heroin or cocaine.

With the number of bars in town, drinking issues also kept officers occupied. Police issued 141 citations under local ordinances for disorderly conduct, public urination, having open liquor, underage drinking, public fighting and loud music, among others. A local ordinance ticket is also written for thefts under $100, if the suspect has no priors, Aftanas said.

The report also presents information on the work of the criminal tactical division, the K-9 unit and the crime free multi-housing division. Aftanas said the officer focuses on issues related to rental buildings in town from investigating suspected drug activity and nuisance complaints in buildings to better preparing landlords to conduct background checks on possible tenants and making buildings safer for tenants.