[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 118 (Wednesday, September 20, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1769-E1771]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




INTRODUCING A RESOLUTION COMMENDING VILLA PARK POLICE DEPARTMENT UNDER 
 THE DIRECTION OF VILLAGE PRESIDENT JOYCE STUPEGIA AND CHIEF OF POLICE 
                             JOHN J. PAYNE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. HENRY J. HYDE

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 20, 2006

  Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend the Villa Park Police 
Department under the direction of Village President Joyce

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Stupegia and Chief of Police John J. Payne. The Department is 
constantly working to find ways to improve the level of service and 
renew their commitment to be better prepared to handle both manmade and 
natural emergencies that may arise. The September 11, 2001 attack on 
New York, as well as other attacks both here and abroad since then, 
demand that we prepare ourselves for emergency response levels that we 
had not previously thought necessary.
  The outcome of this self-evaluation and the efforts to improve and 
enhance traditional police service for the community has resulted in 
many significant accomplishments. These changes have been implemented 
to create safer neighborhoods and build a more informed and involved 
public. A number of the community programs were made possible as a 
result of obtaining various State and Federal grant monies. The Police 
Department has been fortunate in this, as a number of these programs 
would not have been possible without these grant programs.
  Listed below is a summary of programs that highlight what they have 
been working on during the last 2 years to develop useful, community 
orientated law enforcement programs that are relevant to the needs of 
the community. The members of the department have worked hard as a 
group to not only put these programs together, but also to see that 
they remain successful in their continued implementation.
  Expansion of the Citizens Police Academy (CPA)--They have enhanced 
the academy by enrolling citizen graduates into an alumni association 
that receives ongoing law enforcement educational presentations.
  Establishment of a Citizens Voluntary Emergency Response Team--This 
program educates graduates of our citizen police academy in 
disaster preparedness, training them in basic disaster response skills. 
They then have the opportunity to join a roster of volunteers that can 
be called upon to assist the police department as the need arises.

  I.D.O.T. Mini-Alcohol Influence Grant--Received a grant in the amount 
of $28,000, which allowed the department to substantially increase 
their enforcement efforts of the impaired driver that included public 
awareness education as well.
  School Emergency Response Plans--Established a working forum to 
include the police department and all school districts located in Villa 
Park to establish uniform protocols to follow in case of emergencies.
  Inter-operable Communications--Enhanced our inter-communications 
capability with local schools through radio installations at the local 
schools allowing for direct contact with patrol officers, as well as 
with surrounding area police agencies.
  School Mentoring Program--Officers volunteered their time to 
participate in school sponsored mentoring programs to establish better 
relationships with school age individuals and open up better lines of 
communication.
  National Incident Management System (NIMS)--Completed NIMS training 
at various levels to be better prepared for the coordinated efforts 
needed during times of emergency and disasters.
  Cultural Sensitivity and Awareness--Provided training to all members 
of the Police Department to better equip them when interacting with 
individuals of different cultures.
  Illinois Law Enforcement Alarm System (ILEAS)--Became members of 
ILEAS, which is a state wide mutual aid/response system to provide 
assistance when needed. It was through this program that we sent two 
officers, a vehicle, and equipment/supplies to assist in Louisiana for 
two weeks during the Katrina Hurricane aftermath.
  Tactical Weapon Acquisitions--Established membership with the Federal 
LESO surplus equipment acquisition program resulting in being able to 
upgrade tactical weapons at no cost, allowing for improved emergency 
response capability by our patrol officers.
  Landlord Training Seminars--Established landlord training seminars to 
better educate landlords in the management of their property. This 
contributed to the reduction of gang and drug related incidents, and 
provided landlords with additional resources to improve the upkeep of 
the properties.
  Operation Prom Night--Developed program Operation Prom Night, being 
an educational presentation; including graphic recreations of accidents 
to illustrate to high school level students the dangers of drinking and 
driving.

  Senior and Law Enforcement Together (SALT) Group and the Elderly 
Service Officers Program--The department meets regularly with community 
seniors to address issues pertinent to senior citizens and continue to 
educate them as to the scams and dangers that are often directed toward 
their age group. They also maintain a unit of Elderly Services Officers 
that involves a select group of specially trained, state certified 
officers to assist our elderly community. It has a number of facets 
related to education, crime investigations, service referrals, and well 
being checks.
  IDOT Extra Enforcement Efforts--The Department has been recognized by 
IDOT (Illinois Department of Transportation) on numerous occasions for 
our enforcement efforts to increase the use of passenger restraint 
systems in vehicles via the Click it or Ticket Campaigns and Seatbelt 
Enforcement Zones. The department received a $5,000 grant to aid us in 
this enforcement.
  Public Education and Enforcement Research Program (PEERS)--Successful 
application for grant monies of $32,000 allowed for increased education 
and enforcement efforts to reduce the frequency of train and pedestrian 
accidents. The Police Department has been recognized as being a leader 
in our efforts to reduce the frequency of these types of accidents. 
Prior to this year the department developed and implemented this 
program without grant money assistance.
  Radio Inter-operability Enhancement Radio Grant--Participated in a 
competitive grant process which provided the department $40,000 to 
obtain radio equipment to enhance our radio communications capabilities 
with other first responder agencies.
  Illinois Traffic Safety Challenge Award Recipient--The Villa Park 
Police Department was recently recognized for its efforts in addressing 
traffic safety issues by the Illinois Chiefs of Police Association. The 
department achieved first place in the 26 to 50 sworn officers' 
category in this highly competitive program. They were also recognized 
with the prestigious President's Award, which recognizes the best 
overall agency in the state.
  Alliance Against Intoxicated Motorists Award (AAIM)--The Department 
has been recently recognized by AAIM for its impaired driver's 
enforcement efforts and was the recipient of the Guardian Award. This 
award is to recognize the highest DUI arrest rate per officer in the 
state. We have received awards from AAIM consistently for a number of 
years now.
  Roadside Safety Checks--As a part of their traffic safety efforts the 
Police Department operates Roadside Safety Checks in Villa Park and 
assists surrounding law enforcement in their safety checks. These are 
conducted randomly throughout each year.
  Child Safety Seat Education Program--The department conducts child 
safety seat inspections/installations any time a request is made as 
well through roadside drive-through operations. The officers that 
manage this program have specific state certification training. This 
program includes a means to provide seats for those parents that can 
not afford one.
  Night Vision Grant--Obtained a grant from the Department of Homeland 
Security, in the amount of $6,000, to acquire night vision equipment to 
enhance enforcement efforts during times of darkness.
  Operation 64--The department works regularly with a number of police 
departments to provide for a coordinated traffic enforcement plan 
throughout an 11 mile stretch of highway in efforts to reduce the high 
traffic accident rate.
  Mobile Command Center--Acquired a Mobile Command Center through the 
federal LESO Program surplus acquisition program to provide enhanced 
emergency responses, and community event operations.
  D.A.R.E.--The department has one full time D.A.R.E. program certified 
officer. D.A.R.E. is a program that we have been very committed to 
since its inception in 1987 that teaches the dangers of drugs and 
alcohol to school age children.
  Gang Resistance Education and Training Grant (G.R.E.A.T.)--They 
successfully applied for a grant in the amount of $7,800, which helps 
them to maintain their longstanding G.R.E.A.T. program providing 
increased education efforts to assist in reducing gang violence in the 
community.
  Juvenile/Parent Traffic Notification--They are in the process of 
developing a parental notification system where if a minor (under 18 
years of age) receives a traffic ticket, his/her parents are notified 
of this by certified mail.
  NIPAS (Northern Illinois Police Alarm Service)--Unit is comprised of 
99 adjoining communities; including Villa Park, that provide highly 
trained emergency service teams as well as specially trained officers 
to respond to civil disorders and disasters.
  Railroad Safety--The department has initiated Operation Lifesaver. 
This provides Certified Instructors that teach a recognized course of 
instruction in the local school districts as well as working with 
public interest groups. The plan includes enforcement of railroad 
right-of-way trespass and gate crossing violations.
  CIT--Crisis Intervention Teams--They are presently working with 
Mental Illness health provider groups to formally train selected 
officers of the department in the handling of mentally disturbed 
individuals. They will work as a team with the local mental health 
providers to improve our capabilities in recognizing and handling these 
types of calls.
  Neighborhood Watch Groups--The department has officers assigned to 
assist residents to set up and maintain neighborhood watch

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groups. A large part of the village now has neighborhood watch groups. 
Their goal is to have a group that every resident can be a part of. 
These watch groups act as the eyes and ears of their neighbors and the 
police. This allows them to meet regularly with representatives of the 
neighborhood to maintain open lines of communication.
  Truck Enforcement--One full time officer enforces the laws regarding 
2nd Division truck violations.
  Major Traffic Crash Investigators--Consists of a team of highly 
trained officers, who received certification training through 
Northwestern University Traffic Institute. They are available 24 hours 
a day for call-out to conduct in-depth investigations on all serious 
personal injury and fatality crashes.
  Major Crimes Task Force--They are a participating member of this 
multi jurisdictional task force that investigates all major crimes 
committed within the participant's jurisdictions.
  Arson Investigation Unit--Created an Arson Investigation Unit within 
the police department, consisting of a state certified arson 
investigator. This unit also participates in a county wide arson task 
force.
  Saved by the Belt Awards--The department recognizes citizens, who are 
involved in serious traffic accidents, who otherwise might have lost 
their lives if they had not been wearing their seatbelts.
  Community Cultural Program--Local students, whose artwork is 
considered exceptional, can display their art in public surroundings.
  Bulletproof Vest Partnership--The $2,500 competitive federal grant 
program provided funds to assist in the purchase of bulletproof vests 
for Law Enforcement Officers.
  Tobacco Compliance Check Program--The department was awarded a grant 
in the amount of $4,290 from the Illinois Liquor Control Commission's 
Tobacco Program to assist them in policing the sale of tobacco products 
to minors.
  Willowbrook High School Liaison Officer--The department assigns a 
full time officer to the high school to work directly, on a daily 
basis, with school administrators and students.
  Automated External Defibrillator--The department purchased automated 
external defibrillators that are utilized on patrol by all officers. 
These officers are trained in the AED's use and respond to all 
potential medical emergencies that have the potential for the need of 
this device.
  School Bus Safety Plan--This program has officers randomly follow 
school buses along their routes taking enforcement action on vehicles 
that pass in violation of the bus's warning signs. Also, upon receiving 
vehicle information from school bus drivers on these violations, 
warning letters are sent out to the vehicles owners.
  The Police Department has been both proactive as well as reactive in 
their efforts to maintain a safe community through both education and 
enforcement. They are now better prepared to handle emergencies, both 
man-made and natural, but their work is not done. They will continue to 
search out new and innovative ways to provide quality services to the 
residents of Villa Park. While they are proud of these programs and 
accomplishments, they remain cognizant of the dedication of the many 
officers that daily provide traditional patrol and investigative 
services to the Village of Villa Park, Illinois.

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