West Cook News

Earlier this year, the Village Board approved Phase 1 of a new plan to address emergency calls. This phase focuses on two main components: providing an unarmed response to low-risk calls and implementing a Community Care Navigation model.

The unarmed response involves employing non-sworn Community Service Officers (CSOs) to handle low-risk calls that do not require traditional police intervention. These officers will manage situations such as property damage, minor thefts, motor vehicle accidents, and falls on public property. The aim is to improve efficiency in handling these issues by hiring three additional CSOs who are civilian members of the Police Department trained for these specific tasks without carrying firearms.

The second component introduces the Community Care Navigation model. This initiative includes hiring one program manager and two mental health clinicians to provide follow-up care and connect individuals with necessary services after emergency interactions. The focus is on continued support and linking community members to services that might not be addressed through conventional emergency responses. Community Care Navigators will offer follow-ups with individuals and families, facilitating introductions to various service providers in the community. They will also respond quickly to direct calls related to unhoused individuals and traumatic events.

This new approach is part of the Alternative Response to Calls for Service Pilot Program, which results from efforts to reassess how the Village handles emergency calls. It includes community advocacy for reimagining public safety, state legislation like the Community Emergency Services and Support Act (CESSA), and insights from the BerryDunn Community Safety Study. Collaboration with both internal and external public safety partners helped shape this model in line with the Village Board’s objectives.

For more information about this project, visit www.oak-park.us/communitysafety or contact communitysafety@oak-park.us.