Patrol officers are responsible for performing a variety of duties related to the protection of life and property, enforcement of criminal and traffic laws, prevention of crime, preservation of public peace, and the apprehension of violators of the law. They will perform these duties as described in the Department’s Special Orders, Standard Operating Procedures, as directed by supervisors, and in compliance with the Village’s Rules and Regulations, Standard Operating Procedures, Special Orders of the Department, and the Code of Ethics of the Law Enforcement Profession.
Officers work 12 hour shifts and are assigned a sector or a certain area of town to patrol at the beginning of their shift. Being assigned to a sector or area reduces the response time to service calls in that area.
Traffic Unit Division
The Traffic Unit Division is a secondary assignment in which officer(s), are responsible for the implementation of specialized programs (through the Illinois Department of Transportation's Sustained Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) and patrols that relate to the safe movement of vehicular and pedestrian traffic within the jurisdiction of the village.
The Traffic Unit Division submits traffic safety tips and information from holiday enforcement campaigns results from the Illinois Department of Transportation's Sustained Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) for publication to an emailed monthly newsletter provided by the Village of Lake in the Hills. To subscribe to the Village Insider, please click here.
Speed Trailer
The Traffic Division also dispatches the department’s speed trailer. The speed trailer is used to educate drivers of their speed. Placed in various locations throughout the village where speeding problems and complaints have been received, the speed trailer is equipped with a radar gun and a computer that records vehicle speed and the number of vehicles and time of day for each speed. It also allows the department to conduct traffic studies to determine if any changes are needed on a street and to schedule various types of traffic enforcement in the area.
Investigations
The Investigations Division is set up to provide the public with an effective and comprehensive service in which to investigate and proactively document violations of the law that will bring the responsible parties to justice. The department currently has three officers assigned to investigations, supervised by a Detective Sergeant. Their job is to maintain a professional and courteous standard of service to citizens whether they be victims, witnesses, complainants, suspects, or offenders. The officers assigned to Investigations work with other area departments to promote a free flow of communication and information necessary to accomplish the common goal of service and protection to the citizens of Lake in the Hills.
The Lake in the Hills Police Department is committed to aggressively following up on cases forwarded to the Investigations Unit. The department uses all resources available to successfully clear cases assigned. Proactive investigations into property crime and drug offenses are often handled using surveillance equipment. Communications with other departments, organizations, and the news media are used to obtain and disseminate information vital to the completion of cases.
The Investigations Division is committed to maintaining an ongoing relationship with victims of crimes in order to keep them apprised of the progress of the investigation. This may include informal telephone conversations, meetings with the victims or formal written correspondence. The main goal is to maintain a relationship so that victims stay actively involved and informed regarding the investigation that is being conducted.
Community Relations/Crime Prevention
The mission of the Community Relations/Crime Prevention Division is to provide services and programs to educate and communicate with our residents. We strive to provide a relationship with the community that will foster awareness and support an overall improved lifestyle for the residents of the Village of Lake in the Hills. To this end, the Lake in the Hills Police Department will continue to offer and enhance our existing services and programs as well as to look to the future of our community and program growth.
Questions? Email us at communityrelations@lith.org or call 847-658-5676.
Social Services
The Social Services Division of the Lake in the Hills Police Department is utilized to provide specialized assistance to citizens in the community beyond the normal scope of police work. The Social Services Division is operated by the Social Services Director and a part time Police Social Worker.
The Social Services Division receives referrals from police personnel who feel someone may be at risk for future police intervention and in need of counseling services. Self-referrals are also accepted. They are assessed for potential at risk possibility of police involvement. Juveniles with frequent police contact are routed to the Social Services Division typically by the Investigations Division of the Lake in the Hills Police Department.
Sue Blechschmidt is the Police Department’s Social Services Director. Sue attended the University of Illinois for her undergraduate work and has received a Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology from Forest Institute of Professional Psychology. Sue is a licensed Clinical Professional Counselor.
Assessment/Evaluation
The nature of services offered to referred individuals ranges from telephone consultation to individual assessments. Assessments involve the referred individual and possibly his/her family or friends. Assessments can be completed in one session or over the course of several sessions depending on the severity of the situation. The assessment involves a careful review of the subject’s psycho-social difficulties and presenting problem(s). Based upon this assessment, recommendations involve referrals to resources in the community which can best address the individual’s difficulties. Typical of these community referral possibilities are alcohol/drug treatment, psychiatric hospitals, psychiatric evaluations, domestic violence shelters for women, agencies which assist with financial difficulties, or both private and community mental health agencies.
Cost of Service
The social services provided by the Lake in the Hills Police Department are free to all Lake in the Hills residents. Crisis cases may involve non-resident individuals and have one contact with the department. They are not charged for crisis services and are usually referred to service providers within the jurisdiction of their own community.
Crisis Assistance
Given the nature of law enforcement work, the police have contact with individuals and families who may experience a major personal crisis, such as a severe mental health disorder or the loss of a loved one. The Social Services Division is available to assist the police either in person or by telephone with the goal of affecting a disposition. For example, the counselor can evaluate a subject for an involuntary psychiatric hospitalization.
Networking with Community Resources
The Social Services Division will seek to find, develop, and maintain relationships with local community social service providers who can be responsive to the needs of the community.
Types of Referrals
Family conflicts, domestic violence, parent-child stress, child abuse/neglect, depression, substance abuse/chemical dependency, mental/physical illness, runaway youth, and sexual/criminal victimization.
Orders of Protection Explained
Records
The Records Division maintains a structured records keeping system that includes the storage and dissemination of law enforcement reports and related documents. Confidentiality, accuracy, and appropriate dissemination are goals that we strive to achieve to maximize the efficiency of the division.
Lake in the HIlls Police Department and Huntley School District 158 have partnered together for an incredible opportunity to have a School Resource Officer (SRO) at the Reed Road Campuses as part of the District’s ongoing efforts to enhance school safety and student wellness. This program is dedicated to making Huntley 158 schools and students safer by providing law enforcement support and the highest quality training to staff and students.
The SRO is a full-time, fully equipped police officer with authority to enforce local laws as well as to provide first response in emergency situations. The SRO focuses on proactive school safety and security, building positive relationships between students and the law enforcement community, and education on a variety of safety and wellness topics.
Public Information Officer
The Public Information Officer (PIO) is responsible for developing and releasing information about police related incidents to the news media, incident personnel, and other appropriate agencies and organizations. The PIO is also the primary contact for news media seeking police related information from the police department.
In addition, PIO is charged with creating, vetting, and distributing accurate information to the community about the Lake in the HIlls Police Department, criminal activity, reports, news, and information with the goal of informing the public and building police community relations.
