Night Foot Patrols In Downtown Joliet Are Going Great: Chief

JOLIET, IL —Last Wednesday night, when more than 100 Joliet area women took over North Chicago Street for their second monthly Downtown Joliet Ladies Night, their safety didn't need to be a constant worry — thanks to the Joliet Police Department and new Chief Bill Evans.

Veteran Joliet Police Officers Adam Stapleton and Brian Montello stood outside, braving the cold, in the city of Joliet parking lot across from the Rialto Square Theatre and the CUT 158 Chophouse.

CUT 158 was the final destination for the women that night.

At one point, a woman approached the automated pay machine, and that's when Stapleton alerted her that the parking lot is free in the evenings and on weekends.

Several minutes later, a mother and her small young children were leaving the Rialto. The mother asked if her kids could pet Stapleton's police dog, a German Shepherd. A smile came across Stapleton's face, and he was more than happy to oblige and let the little kids pet Nevil for the next several minutes.

During a recent interview at the Joliet Police Station, Chief Evans told Joliet Patch that he has received a ton of positive feedback from Joliet area citizens who have seen or interacted with the two Joliet police officers doing the nighttime downtown foot patrols.

"We're got a ton of compliments on that," Evans said.

Evans said the assignments rotate, so it's not necessarily the same officers working consecutive nights or weeks.

The officers' main territory is the North Chicago Street corridor where downtown Joliet's most popular bars, restaurants and entertainment venues are: Chicago Street Pub, CUT 158 Chophouse, Rialto Square Theatre, Mousa Tapas Bar, Juliet's Tavern and The Forge.

The next major attraction will probably open next year, the Illinois Rock & Roll Museum, which is behind Juliet's and across the street from The Forge. The women participating in Wednesday's ladies night got a chance to explore the main level of the Rock & Roll Museum.

In any event, Joliet's two officers assigned to the nightly beat patrols walk the downtown streets, including North Ottawa Street in front of the Joliet Public Library. They also monitor the downtown's multi-level parking decks.

Evans said one of the main points of having the two officers outside their squad cars and interacting with visitors coming to downtown Joliet is to alleviate any safety concerns.

For now, the downtown foot patrol assignments are regularly set for 6 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Evans said.

"We like to focus on the Rialto, the three premier restaurants and all the businesses open late, an officer on foot in the presence of the area there," Evans said. "People are commenting very favorably. I think it makes people feel more comfortable for a show or a dinner and I think we've had an impact there, but I realize that there's more we have to do, and people are seeing downtown Joliet is not as dangerous as it's publicized."

Evans acknowledged that downtown Joliet, like practically every section of the city, has had crime.

"There has been low-level crime and criminal damage to property, some trespassing," remarked the chief, who also lives in downtown Joliet after moving here from Chicago. He took over as the new permanent chief of police on March 1, becoming the city's first outside chief in more than 20 years. Evans had retired from Cook County's Sheriff's Office, where he was a lieutenant.

During the summer, Evans said the foot patrol officers also walk along East Jefferson Street on nights when there's Frontier League baseball games for the Joliet Slammers.

The foot patrol officers help with traffic and "bring a visible presence. Every week it's a new group of officers," he said.

On Wednesday night, Joliet Patch covered the second-ever monthly Downtown Joliet Ladies Night, which was launched by downtown business owners Amber Duffy and Elina Triantou to generate more weekday business and foot traffic.

One of the comments on the Patch article came from Sean Denoyer, who wrote: "I've lived downtown for 9 years now. It's safer than most neighborhoods. The only incidents are at Harrah's. There is already and always been police presence. Homeless? Hardly see any and usually rounded up — they are on the west side. Eleven new businesses in the past 2 years, most owned by people under 30. No, it's not Naperville, but there are some interesting niche stores and a thriving art community."