West Cook News

State Sen. John Curran (R-Downers Grove) is letting parents know of an upcoming COVID-19 vaccine clinic for children.

“This clinic is only for children ages 5-11,” Curran posted on Facebook. “If you have decided the COVID-19 vaccine is right for your child ... schedule an appointment at this clinic.”

The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5-11 will be offered Feb. 11 at Indian Prairie Public Library, 401 Plainfield Drive in Darien.

The clinic runs from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. A signed consent form is needed to receive the shot. Walk-ins will be accepted, though registration is highly recommended.

Earlier this month, West Cook News reported Curran also took the time to salute police officers on National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day.

"They work days, nights, weekends, and holidays, keeping us safe," Curran added in an earlier post to Facebook. "Today we honor true heroes; our dedicated members of law enforcement. Join me in thanking these brave men and women for all they do in our communities."

While the day was first established back in 2015, this year’s celebration comes at a time when police departments across the country are struggling with retention and recruitment. News Nation reports that Chicago’s crime problem has gotten so bad that the Bucktown Neighbors Association has hired a private security firm to patrol their neighborhood.

The National Police Foundation (NPF) told Newsweek data shows that several cities known to have experienced record-high crime in 2021 are also dealing with police staffing shortages. NPF President Jim Burch added that recruitment has been a problem "for many years I think what is a little bit different about it today is we have a continuing recruitment—I'll call it a crisis. But at the same time, we have an attrition problem."

In The National Retail Federation’s (NRF) 2021 Retail Security Survey, Chicago ranked third in the country among cities most impacted by organized retail theft, with CPD officials reporting there were instances when they could not respond promptly to 911 calls because of a lack of personnel.

"Right now, today, there are simply too many violent people walking our streets and wreaking havoc in our neighborhoods," Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot told Fox News.

In 2021, nine Illinois law enforcement officers were killed in the line of duty, according to the Officer Down Memorial Page.