Oak Lawn Police Detective Named 'Investigator of the Year'

OAK LAWN, IL — Oak Lawn Police Detective Todd Gross is the winner of the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police inaugural Investigator of the Year Award. The award recognizes those detectives or investigators who are often not publicly recognized for solving cases yet are important in the investigation of all types of cases.

Det. Gross’s hard work during 2022 led to several high-profile arrests and detailed investigations. Det. Gross was busy in 2022, being assigned 134 cases. He persevered and ended up leading the Oak Lawn Police Department in felony arrests with 65. Some high-profile cases tackled by Det. Gross included a home invasion where an elderly resident was battered, and cash and documents were taken from the home. After an investigation lasting multiple months, three arrests were made, and another is pending. Another case was a first degree murder in which a father slammed his baby onto a cushion on the ground numerous times. Det. Gross interviewed the father at length, and eventually the father confessed to the crime.

He also investigated a shooting at a local motel in which the victim suffered life-threatening injuries. Through the course of the investigation, two suspects were identified and later taken into custody. Both suspects were charged with attempted murder and are awaiting trial.

Det. Gross also showed great determination and tenacity when he arrested an offender for aggravated battery with a firearm, which resulted from a road rage incident. The offender was discovered to have fled the country and Det. Gross was able to obtain an arrest warrant for him. When the offender returned, Det. Gross coordinated with Customs and Border Patrol at O'Hare Airport to detain the offender.

“Det. Gross is always willing to take the lead in bigger cases and has the full trust of his supervisors when he does,” Oak Lawn Police Chief Daniel Vittorio said.

His investigation skills did not go completely unnoticed as in 2022, Det. Gross won the VFW Officer of the Year Award. Det. Gross started in the patrol division in 2013. In 2019, he was appointed to the detective division.

“He has become one of our more seasoned and experienced investigators on the department,” Chief Vittorio said.

Since joining the Oak Lawn Police Department, Det. Gross has served as a D.A.R.E. instructor and field training officer. He also serves as a member of the South Suburban Major Crimes Task Force. Prior to a career in law enforcement, Det. Gross obtained a bachelor’s degree from Northern Illinois University and then served on active duty with the United States Army, obtaining the rank of captain. He is a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Det. Gross is married and has three children.

Det. Gross will receive the Criminal Investigator of the Year Award at the ILACP Annual Awards Banquet on April 21 in Lombard, Illinois.