Since the passage of HB3653, Unity Partnership has participated in a number of meetings with various stakeholders who have shared their responses to the bill. In particular, we have heard from our law
enforcement partners who felt that they did not have sufficient input in the decision making process and are concerned about some unintended consequences of specific provisions. To facilitate meaningful engagement regarding these concerns, we requested and have been granted a meeting with Illinois State Senator Elgie Sims, who sponsored the bill.  The date of the meeting is Thursday, February 25th at 2pm.  Please  join us for this important event. 

Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://zoom.us/j/99519123797?pwd=K0Mzejk1VU5sTGc5OHIwRHN2WDZuUT09
Passcode: 488121

 
 

One of our goals at UP is to promote more diversity in policing.  To that end, we are happy to announce an effort underway in Arlington Heights in conjunction with several other Northwest suburban communities to address the growing shortage of police officers.   

"Together the group will offer a Police Officer Training Workshop that aims to find new and more diverse candidates, provide clarity into the hiring process and increase awareness for the many career opportunities in law enforcement. The live virtual event will take place from 9 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Saturday, March 13. 

“Policing remains a rewarding and noble calling for the right person,” said Arlington Heights Police Chief Nicholas Pecora. “An engaged police officer has the ability to positively impact the quality of life of those they encounter every day. Consider giving back. Consider a career in law enforcement.”

In recent years, the Arlington Heights, Buffalo Grove, Elk Grove Village, Hoffman Estates, Mount Prospect, Palatine, and Schaumburg police departments have each experienced a drop in the number of job applicants. The challenge they face is not unique. Surveys show nearly two-thirds of departments across the U.S. have seen similar decreases. Agencies are also reporting difficulty recruiting minority, female and bilingual officers.

Representatives of the area villages’ administrations and police departments cite various factors for the decline, including a more competitive job market, disinterest in the profession, and a lack of preparation for the selection process itself.

The group formed the Northwest Suburban Law Enforcement Recruitment Taskforce and partnered with Harper’s Law Enforcement and Justice Administration Program to develop the half-day informational workshop. 

"Law Enforcement is one of the most important careers in society today. The Village wants to get candidates with diverse perspectives and backgrounds to join our team,” said Village Manager Randy Recklaus. “There has never been a more important time to find good candidates to become a Police Officer.”

In addition to networking with newly hired and veteran police officers, attendees will gain valuable insight into the various stages of the police officer selection process from subject matter experts! Sessions will cover:

• The written examination
• Physical ability (POWER) testing
• A panel discussion on the polygraph examination, psychological testing and background investigation
• Oral interviews

Attendees can also learn about the many benefits of becoming a police officer including compensation, which remains higher in the Chicago area than most other regions. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, police and sheriff’s patrol officers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin metropolitan region earn an annual mean salary of $79,540.

The seven agencies hope the workshop will increase the number and diversity of their candidates and help aspiring police officers to be successful in the selection process. They’re also looking for individuals interested in exploring internships, ride-alongs, and otherwise learn more about a career in law enforcement.

The cost to attend the Workshop is $25. Visit Police Officer Training Workshop to register."