Western Springs Arrests More Than Double in 2023

WESTERN SPRINGS, IL – The Western Springs Police Department's number of arrests in 2023 more than doubled 2022's, according to its annual report.

The department recorded 114 arrests last year, well over the 45 in 2022.

In 2022, the department went six weeks without making an arrest.

From January to April 2023, Western Springs police arrested 13 people, compared with Hinsdale's 38 and La Grange's 24, according to their weekly blotters.

During the same period, just a quarter of Western Springs' arrests were outside the normal business hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Hinsdale and La Grange showed far greater rates of night arrests – 66 percent and 58 percent, respectively.

In early March 2023, the Western Springs department had a change at the helm, with Addison Deputy Police Chief Sean Gilhooley becoming Western Springs' chief.

He joined the department after a series of management changes over the previous year.

In spring 2022, Deputy Police Chief Daniel Albrecht left under a cloud. Former Police Chief Brian Budds resigned in November 2022 to become the police chief in Buffalo Grove.

After Budds left, Terry Mee, who had served in several suburban departments, was hired as interim chief. He left after three weeks, though it was unclear why.

After Albrecht's sudden exit, detective Ashlee Niezgoda was appointed deputy chief. She took charge of the department after Mee's departure, though she was not given the interim chief title.

In an email to Patch this week, Gilhooley said he had overseen changes in staffing and strategy in the police department.

"We’ve introduced a new split patrol shift from 12 pm to 12 am, enhancing coverage during peak hours and contributing to a rise in arrests during the nighttime hours," Gilhooley said. "This adjustment is part of our broader strategy to improve police service and efficiency."

In 2023, the department introduced a part-time social worker who "proactively engages" with people who police previously spent several hours per shift helping, the chief said.

Since the social worker came on board, the police have seen a big drop in calls for service from residents in crisis, he said. The social worker gives connections to local resources.

"This approach has allowed officers to concentrate their efforts on proactive patrol duties while providing an exceptional professional social services response from the Department," Gilhooley said.

He also said the department remains deeply committed to community policing. Officers have the opportunity to work more hours on police initiatives such as foot and bicycle patrols, particularly in business districts and parks, he said.

"This year alone, officers have engaged in six (problem-oriented policing) Projects, addressing concerns such as traffic and animal complaints, and safety issues such as children riding their bicycles on sidewalks in the business district," Gilhooley said.