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Message from the Chief of
Police
As we enter this new decade, I can’t
help but remember all of
the
changes within our community that I have witnessed during my thirty four years
working here for
the
Hickory Hills Police Department. The horse stables located at
95th street
and
Kean Avenue
were transformed into condominiums and townhouses.
Consistent with that development trend,
the
Wachter farm and Poor Clares Monastery off of
Kean Avenue
were replaced with new subdivisions of single family homes.
New City
parks were created and
the
Krueger
Park
building was constructed along with a major addition to
the
Kasey
Meadows
Park
facility. Churches within our community have been expanded and have also
switched denominations.
Dorn
School
went from a K through 8th grade building to a K through 6th
grade building to a primary center which now holds all kindergarten and first
grade students for
the
entire 117
School District
. The 117
School District
Administrative
Office
Building
on
95th Street
was torn down to make way for new condominiums.
The Hickory / Palos Square Shopping
Center, which is one of
the
city’s primary business areas, was constructed on a parcel of property at 95th
Street and Roberts Road that belonged to
the
Hickory Hills Country Club golf course. The Jewel Osco store moved from its
original location on
the
Sou
the
ast corner to its present location within
the
shopping center, and a B P mini mart gas station was created at
the
former location of Jewel Foods. The Sears Service Center, Chicken Unlimited,
Golden Gate Nursery, and my favorite diner Angelo’s became 95th
Street Produce Mart, Dunkin Donuts, Wendy’s and Les Bro
the
rs Restaurant. The
Gas
Village
gas station and car wash is now
the
new location of McDonald’s and
the
vacant area south of
95th Street
and east of
78th Ave
was transformed into a light industrial business area.
The location of
the
Hickory Hills Police Station was also subject to relocation over this time
span. The station originally
operated out of a double wide trailer located at
the
current City Hall location on
95th Street
across from
the
well known Green’s West Restaurant which is now Camelot. The station was
moved for about a one year period during
the
construction of
the
current City Hall and took occupancy in a remodeled church located at
the
Nor
the
ast corner of
95th Street
and
78th Avenue
across from Standard Bank. Upon completion of
the
City Hall construction,
the
station moved back to that location where it remained until occupying
the
current state of
the
art police facility at
87th Street
and
88th Avenue
in 2003.
Just
as I have
witnessed
the
se changes within our city, I have also observed significant changes to
the
various approaches of policing. Police today are better trained than ever
before.
The six week training academy and one month in-service training that I
completed back in 1976 has been replaced with a twelve week academy and three
month field training period. Most of our police officers today have also
received
the
benefit of a college education. We have moved from large gas guzzling squad
cars to more fuel efficient all purpose vehicles. Hand held walkie talkies have
been replaced with hi tech in car digital video systems and mobile data
terminals. Police practices and procedures have had to be altered and modified
in order to adapt to Supreme Court decisions and
the
implementation of stricter laws dealing with domestic violence, gang crimes,
and impaired driving. The typical reactive police response has given way to
strategic planning and
the
development of goals and objectives.
Police have become problem solvers and have taken a more proactive
approach to
the
ir response to crime and citizens quality of life concerns.
Like our community,
the
Hickory Hills Police Department continues to evolve and change in order to
effectively meet
the
needs of our citizens. Throughout this new decade we will strive to remain
vigilant in our quest to provide effective professional police services to
the
community that we serve.
Alan T. Vodicka
Chief of Police
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