Area police working to initiate Major Crimes Task Force
RESPONDING TO CRIME SPIKE
JOLIET -- Will County police departments will put together a Major Crimes Task Force over the next few months.
Joliet police Chief Fred Hayes, who is president of the Will County Police Chief's Association, said an executive board will meet next month to formalize the agreement, procedures and legalities for the different agencies involved.
"The primary mission will be responding when serious crimes exceed (a local department's) available resources to effectively investigate," Hayes said.
The executive board consists of Hayes, Will County Sheriff Paul Kaupas, state police District Commander Ken Kaupas, Channahon Chief Joe Pena, Bolingbrook Chief Ray McGury, New Lenox Chief Dan Martin, Frankfort Chief Robert Piscia, a locally based FBI agent and Will County State's Attorney James Glasgow. The executive board will receive input from a board of directors, which is expected to have a representative from every law enforcement agency in Will County.
"Recently, Will County has experienced a level of incidents we've never seen before including some high-profile disappearances and homicides with multiple victims, such as the Lane Bryant shootings," Glasgow said.
On Feb. 2, five women were shot to death and another wounded at the Tinley Park clothing store, a crime being investigated by the South Suburban Major Crimes Task Force.
"We watched them work firsthand and they were literally a godsend for us. (Instead of) being stretched thin, they immediately brought in 45, 50 investigators who knew how to set up, knew how to process the scene," Glasgow said. "They went in and left no stone unturned where a small department would've been overwhelmed."
Glasgow noted newer technology has increased the amounts of paperwork, like cell phone and credit card records, investigators must search through.
"The task force would ideally benefit a small police department that may not have had a homicide in five or 10 years and may only have one or two investigators," Hayes said. "Larger departments like Joliet and the sheriff may not be as likely to use the task force, but it's available should we ever need it."
"Everyone involved understands the (task force's) value. So every department must be willing to share officers for a period of time," Glasgow said.
Hayes said Will County is "very fortunate local police already have a lot of experience with multijurisdictional task forces."
Local officers already work with the Metropolitan Area Narcotics Squad, Tri-County Auto Theft Task Force and Will County Cooperative Police Assistance Team, which targets large-scale criminal and drug operations.
First Assistant State's Attorney Greg DeBord said the task force has been in the discussion stages for several months.
"Every department is on board and recognizes this need. It isn't just a knee-jerk reaction to (Lane Bryant)," he said.
DeBord said the task force could be in operation before the end of this summer.