The Village of Oak Park | 123 Madison St. Oak Park, IL 60302 | village@oak-park.us
Oak Park offers a variety of services that can be accessed online from a computer, tablet or smart phone. Some of the services are managed directly by the Village, while others are third-party vendors authorized by the Village to conduct transactions.
The Village of Oak Park provides a wide range of services, from public safety programs like fire and police protection to support for housing, historic preservation and neighborhood relations. Don't see what you are looking for? Use the search feature at the top of the page.
Oak Park operates under the village manager form of government. A part-time, elected legislative body of a president and six trustees hires a professional manager to oversee the day-to-day administration of government programs and services.
Oak Park boasts excellent schools, world class architecture, shopping, dining and an extensive public transportation network. But Oak Park is more than a place – it also is a way of life. Use the links in this menu to learn more about our community and the many services available to residents and visitors alike.
Oak Park offers a variety of services that can be accessed online from a computer, tablet or smart phone. Some of the services are managed directly by the Village, while others are third-party vendors authorized by the Village to conduct transactions.
The Village of Oak Park provides a wide range of services, from public safety programs like fire and police protection to support for housing, historic preservation and neighborhood relations. Don't see what you are looking for? Use the search feature at the top of the page.
Oak Park operates under the village manager form of government. A part-time, elected legislative body of a president and six trustees hires a professional manager to oversee the day-to-day administration of government programs and services.
Oak Park boasts excellent schools, world class architecture, shopping, dining and an extensive public transportation network. But Oak Park is more than a place – it also is a way of life. Use the links in this menu to learn more about our community and the many services available to residents and visitors alike.
Here are links to some of the most popular items on the Village web site.
Here are links to some of the most popular items on the Village web site.
As national news reports continue to focus on how individual officers have dealt with emotion-charged incidents, the Oak Park Police Department is working to equip its men and women with the tools to ensure fairness is a fundamental part of how they respond in all situations.
Work begins in a classroom at Village Hall, where officers are being trained in the principles of procedural justice, a concept that says how individuals view the justice system is tied more to the perceived fairness of the process and how they were treated, rather than the outcome.
“Fairness is a cornerstone of the Oak Park Police Department and officers are expected to show respect and understanding in all encounters,” said Police Chief Rick C. Tanksley. “But as policing methods continue to evolve, it is important to never stop exploring approaches that may help us make sure our actions are not only what we believe to be in the best interests of the citizens we are sworn to serve and protect, but also perceived that way by those we police.”
The Oak Park Police Department partnered with the University of Illinois Chicago’s Center for Public Safety and Justice to present the training, which was developed by the King County Sheriff’s Office in Seattle, Washington and is becoming a national model. The course is designed to help individual officers understand how their interactions and decision-making processes can increase cooperation and compliance by promoting trust — or lead to lack of public support and even confrontation.
“Police officers often are in situations where emotions can cause disputes to quickly spiral out of control,” Tanksley said. “Exercising authority in a manner that is fair and just is essential to ensuring a positive outcome. This training is designed to give our officers additional tools to help them respond appropriately and fairly regardless of the circumstances.”
The underlying concept of procedural justice is a familiar one in the Oak Park Police Department, which has participated in surveys conducted by the UIC that measured how satisfied individuals who had an encounter with an Oak Park police officer were with the way they were treated. The surveys, one in 2010 and a second in 2014, found that individuals were very satisfied with how they were treated, even when they received a citation. The Oak Park results far exceeded the findings in similar-sized jurisdictions across the country.
“We know from research that our officers treat everyone with respect, regardless of whether police initiated an encounter or they were responding to a call for service,” Tanksley said. “But that doesn’t mean we should be satisfied and stop learning. Training is essential to making sure we never forget who we serve and why.”
More information on the Oak Park Police Department and it philosophy of community policing is posted at www.oak-park.us/police.
