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Field Operations
Patrol Division
The Patrol Division is the largest component of the agency and is responsible for responding to both emergency and non-emergency calls for services from the public. In addition, this Division handles traffic enforcement, special assignments, self-initiated activities and addresses community concerns. Patrol Officers are responsible for partnering with the community to protect life and property and to maintain peace, order and safety and perform ancillary functions such as Evidence Technician, Field Training Officer, Canine Officer, Special Enforcement Team Officer and Bicycle Patrol Officer, to name a few.The Patrol Division is divided into three shifts in order to provide 24-hour police services. Each shift or "watch" is supervised by a Commander and several Sergeants. The number of Officers assigned to each shift is tailored to historical and anticipated activity levels.
A complement of four Community Service Officers (CSOs) assist the Patrol Division with myriad tasks including parking enforcement, abandoned vehicles, private property crash reporting, traffic control and staffing the front desk.
Investigations
The Investigations Division is responsible for follow-up investigation of crimes reported to the Police Department. The Investigations Division supervisors review almost 5,800 reports annually to identify cases designated for further action. Investigative specialties include juvenile crimes, property crimes, crimes against persons, auto theft, crimes against the elderly and financial crimes.Police Canine Unit
In early April 2022, the Skokie Police Department invited children to enter a contest to name the Department's new K9. The contest announcement encouraged names connected to the Star Wars franchise, as the new K9's handler, Officer Rob Ochoa, is a big Star Wars fan. The new K9 would replace recently-retired Jasko, who retired in fall 2021 after seven years of service (see more information below).
Jinn, a black German Shepherd completed extensive training, both individually and with Officer Ochoa, and was officially sworn in at the August 1, 2022 Village Board meeting. Since June 2022, Jinn has been living with and working on street patrol with Officer Ochoa.
Click here to see a video of Jinn's swearing-in ceremony (starts at approximately the 7:15 mark on the video).In late September 2021, Jasko, the Skokie Police Department’s dog in the Canine Unit, ‘retired’ after seven years of service to the Village. Based on the Department’s K9 Module, Jasko and Officer Nick Larson, Jasko’s handler, conducted 575 outside training exercises, 630 on-duty employments and over 100 off-duty calls. Jasko’s work consisted of narcotics searches, open-area searches for firearms or other evidence, searches for endangered missing persons, violent crime suspect tracking and apprehensions and more. During his years of service to the Village, Jasko assisted several federal law enforcement agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms and Tobacco, as well as the Cook County Sheriff’s Police and nearly 20 suburban police departments.
In addition, Officer Larson and Jasko conducted dozens of community engagements such as demonstrations for student groups, scout troops, Citizen Police Academies and more. During his retirement years, Jasko with Officer Larson and his family, as he did during his years of service.
Victim / Witness Assistance Program
The Department Social Worker is responsible for crisis intervention, assessment, short-term counseling, court advocacy and referral of victims and witnesses to appropriate services. The Social Worker assists other Department members in handling particular cases, provide critical incident stress debriefings and performs recruit and in-service training to employees as necessary. The Police Social Worker may be contacted at 847-982-5943.Evidence Technician Program
Evidence Technicians trained in crime and accident scene processing are assigned to each of the three watches to ensure 24-hour per day coverage. Annually, nearly 800 follow-up investigations are conducted.Watch an evidence storage informational video.
Tactical Intervention Unit
The Skokie Police Department has both a Hostage Negotiation Team and a special purpose Tactical Intervention Team in order to better serve and protect the citizens of Skokie. The teams are activated only in the event of extraordinary incidents such as a hostage or barricaded subject, terrorist situations, civil unrest, to execute high-risk warrants or when VIP protection is deemed necessary.Special Enforcement Team
In direct response to recurring criminal concerns and specific crime patterns, the Skokie Police Department maintains a Special Enforcement Team to more effectively control and suppress criminal activities and trends as they are identified. The team consists of a Sergeant and four Police Officers which operate in uniform or plain clothes as necessary to meet their objectives. The team often coordinates its efforts internally with the Patrol and Investigative Divisions and externally with agencies such as the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), U.S. Customs and the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI).Photo-Enforcement Program
The Village of Skokie in partnership with the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) is committed to increasing vehicular, pedestrian and bicycle safety, especially at intersections. Red light enforcement systems are installed at the intersections of Dempster Street and McCormick Boulevard monitoring southbound, and at Oakton Street and McCormick Boulevard monitoring northbound, southbound and westbound and at Howard Street and McCormick Boulevard monitoring southbound and westbound.View a list of Photo-Enforcement Frequently Asked Questions (PDF).
Comments
The Skokie Police Department encourages citizen comments. Please include your name, telephone number, and address so that concerns, compliments, or information can be followed up. Anonymous concerns, compliments, or information will also be investigated. Citizens are encouraged to contact the following personnel either by letter, telephone 847-982-5900 or by email:To learn more about traffic safety, please visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website.