Oak Park crime reaches new historic low

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Crime stats declined in Oak Park in 2011 by 8 percent, according to figures released by the village.| Rob Hart~Staff Photographer

Updated: February 27, 2012 8:15AM

Crime rates in Oak Park last year fell to the lowest level in 40 years.

Serious crime, such as burglary and theft, decreased 8 percent from 2010 to 2011, according to crime statistics released by the village last week. The decrease follows a 12 percent decline recorded in 2010.

Overall, 1,757 criminal incidents were recorded last year, 21 percent lower than the average rate of 2,236 the previous decade (from 2001 to 2010).

Burglary and theft drove the statistics, accounting for 88 percent of all serious crime. Burglary was down 1 percent (from 380 to 376 incidents) and theft was down 7 percent (1,268 to 1.176).

Aggravated assault/battery also fell, 43 percent from 44 to 25 incidents.

Robbery was down 20 percent, from 133 to 106.

The figures reflect a dramatic decrease in serious crime since the 1991, when Oak Park saw a second all-time high of 4,250 felony incidents. Since then, felony crime has dropped 60 percent.

‘Progress made’

Chief of Police Rick Tanksley expressed reserved satisfaction at the figures on Thursday. He credited an aware and cooperative citizenry with playing an important role in crime prevention and solving.

“I’m pleased with the progress we’re making regarding quality of life and on the perception issue,” he said.

Tanksley also acknowledged the limits of statistics, saying they mean little to someone who has suffered the physical and emotional pain of a violent crime.

“Whether the overall rate is at a 39-year low doesn’t necessarily mean a lot to a victim of a crime. That’s why my officers, command staff and I continually strive to help residents feel safe by providing them the information they need to play an important role in our crime-fighting initiatives,” he said.

Several high-profile incidents in and near Oak Park raised safety concerns in 2011, including a series of muggings in which woman were choked from behind and robbed.

In August, a River Forest woman managed to fight off a vicious attack by a convicted rapist who was attempting to kidnap her.

Toward the end of 2011, police in Oak Park and Chicago were warning of armed and strong-arm robberies on or near CTA Blue and Green Line stations.

Tanksley lauded the efforts of the men and women in the Oak Park patrol, detective and street crimes divisions for their consistent and effective efforts.

He vowed to continue efforts to improve on his department’s record.

“Oak Park is a relatively safe community, and we can make it safer.”

The policing successes come with a hefty price tag.

Oak Park spent $16.4 million on police services in 2010, an average of $315,000 per week. That is projected to rise to $17.5 million this year.

Policing strategies

Tanksley said several key developments in law enforcement have had major impacts in policing effectiveness without increasing police staffing.

Police in the near west suburban area have focused inter-agency cooperation and intelligence sharing for the last decade. Additionally, their strategy of focusing on identifying and arresting high-volume, repeat criminal offenders appears to be paying off, police officials say.

“Putting on a united front is extremely important,” Tanksley said. “As we go forward, it’s important we solidify our cooperative relationships with neighboring communities.”

The key, Tanksley said, is “law enforcement sharing intelligence, meeting together and going after serial offenders,” who routinely move about from municipality to municipality committing crimes.

“They’re organized. They’ll hit one community, then go into another community to let the heat die down.”

Besides sharing the same primary radio dispatch band, Oak Park, River Forest and Forest Park police are members of WEDGE, the West Suburban Directed Gang Enforcement task force. All three also participate in FOREcast, a joint intelligence sharing operation between the three departments and Elmwood Park.

Such close cooperation had its beginnings 10 years ago when Oak Park shared information with Chicago police in the adjacent 15th and 25th police districts regarding drug traffic and street gangs.

Tanksley acknowledged that drug trafficking continues to be a challenge for the village in its proximity to Chicago’s West Side which draws people “from all over God’s creation to purchase drugs.”

“(15th District) Commander (Walter) Green has done an excellent job in combatting the drug trade,” said Tanksley.

But drugs aren’t the only challenge facing police in the Austin District just east of Austin Boulevard.

While Oak Park had 10 robberies — four armed — in December, plus one business robbery, the Austin neighborhood recorded more than 50 robberies during that period. On Dec. 21 police handled eight street robberies and a retail store armed robbery.

The night of Dec. 29, a police officer was murdered and a store clerk shot during the robbery of a convenience store at Austin and Division. There were three other robberies within a mile of that scene the same night.

“What happens in one community has an impact on other communities,” Tanksley said.