Police report: staffing gaps, cameras and recovered firearms; council approves $117,096.69 in police bills

Police Chief DeRoach told the City Council on Wednesday, Sept. 3 that the department is carrying staffing shortages but has recovered firearms, expanded camera coverage downtown and is purchasing forensic imaging equipment under a grant. The council approved police bills totaling $117,096.69.

DeRoach reported the department currently lists 68 sworn positions (the department is budgeted for 67 but expected to return to that level after an upcoming retirement) and said about 55 officers were available for duty because of illnesses, training and leaves. “We have had shift shortages,” DeRoach said, noting the department is using overtime to fill gaps; he reported police overtime of $32,346 for the reporting period and said the department is still awaiting reimbursement of roughly $26,000–$30,000 from the Democratic National Convention from last year.

DeRoach said the department and KMAG recovered 16 firearms in August and that the city now has about 220 Verkada cameras deployed, plus eight Flock cameras. He highlighted a $24,999 Ballistics IQ imaging purchase that was grant funded and noted ammunition purchases (about $11,479.16) were made through the Fraternal Order of Police and thus not charged directly to the city budget. DeRoach said the department conducts in‑house testing for new hires and that three officers were in the academy this September.

On criminal and response statistics the chief said officers opened 315 cases in August, made 109 adult arrests and three juvenile arrests, handled 83 traffic accidents and recorded 31 shots‑fired incidents. The department also increased extra patrols downtown (the “K‑11” district) and installed two fisheye cameras at the gazebo to monitor activity.

Council members asked about coordination with private security and planned fencing at a local complex; DeRoach said security management from Chicago has proposed gated access, perimeter fencing and additional cameras and that the proposal would leave access for emergency vehicles and residents while tying into a future sound‑wall and right‑of‑way changes by IDOT. City officials did not vote on any fencing or capital security work at this meeting.

Alderman Ozinga moved to approve the police department bills totaling $117,096.69; Alderman Jones seconded the motion and the council approved it by voice vote.