High Ratings For Western Springs Police: Survey

WESTERN SPRINGS, IL – Western Springs police received high ratings from residents who contacted them in 2021, a survey shows.

Every year, the police department randomly mails surveys to the residents who dealt with police staff. According to the police department, 56 completed surveys were returned in 2021. That was out of 180 sent.

Residents were asked to give ratings of "excellent," "good," "fair" or "poor" for categories such as courtesy, competence, fairness, putting people at ease and solving the problem.

Nearly all the respondents rated the police as "excellent" or "good" in every category. The police received no "poor" marks.

In two cases, residents rated police as "fair" in solving the problem. In one instance, police got a "fair" ranking for putting people at ease.

The ratings resemble past surveys.

In the surveys, residents were asked to make comments. Some had suggestions.

One wrote, "Please give tickets to those who blow stop signs near Forest Hills School. Happens all day long."

One suggested more officers patrol downtown on foot.

"We used to know the officers by name," the resident said.

At this week's Village Board meeting, Village President Alice Gallagher noted the high ratings.

"We're used to these numbers, but that doesn't make them any less exceptional," she said.