Two local governmental units have pooled their resources to devise a unique way of protecting park property and users.

By John C. Muno

Until June, the Wheeling Park District protected its parks and facilities with police patrols similar to those used by other recreation agencies. Now it enjoys a cooperative arrangement with the Wheeling Police Department for law enforcement services.

Previous efforts

The village police and park district had worked with an unwritten agreement in previous years to provide police protection in the parks. The park board issued each of the sworn officers an annual park police card. This enabled them to enforce established park ordinances, and federal, State and other local laws on park property.

Prior police protection on park property consisted primarily of vehicle patrols by the regularly scheduled street patrol officers on duty. These patrols were more of a reactive situation after an incident occurred as opposed to a pro-active measure.

Increased community population and use of park facilities, expansion of park areas, increased properties inaccessible to vehicle patrols, and growing vandalism and citizen complaints prompted a change in police services.

A changing park environment prompted different police protection.

Intergovernmental agreement

Although discussions for a formal law enforcement and police protection agreement between the park district and village began in 1980, final arrangements were developed early this year. Excerpts from Police Protection and Law Enforcement Agreements for Park Properties, already utilized by various agencies, were included in this agreement.

The authorization to enter into a formal intergovernmental agreement is permitted under Illinois law and the Park District Code. The final agreement was developed to identify both law enforcement services for park district properties and the framework for the new Park Community Service Officer Program. It was adopted separately by both the Wheeling Board of Trustees and the Wheeling Park District Board of Commissioners in May of this year.

Program development

The passage of legislation (H.B. 708) in the 83rd General Assembly enabled the park district to levy a 1984 police tax of .0047 percent for fiscal year 1985. This amounted to $15,000 in the newly created Police Fund.

The first step in the development of the Park Community Service Officer Program was determining how to most effectively and efficiently utilize the Police Fund. It was decided that the program would be seasonal (June through August) when park utilization was the heaviest. Joint

Illinois Parks and Recreation                                 19                                       November/December 1985

program objectives were also developed. These included;

• assisting park district patrons with requests for law enforcement services, and other information and assistance, which do not require a sworn police officer.

• preparing reports of incidents that occur on park property not requiring a police officer's assistance.

• performing patrol functions to observe park ordinance violations.

• coordinating the district's recreation activities for youths.

• assisting in the apprehension of domestic and wild animals on park property.

• encouraging youths to use park facilities.

• initiating contact with the growing number of Hispanic youths to aid their assimilation in the community.

• counseling individuals and groups on an "as needed basis" and making referrals to other resources as necessary.

• functioning as recreation counselors.

• maintaining radio contact with police communications and requesting assistance when needed.

Program operation

The Park Community Service Officer Program is under the supervision of the deputy chief of the village police department. The superintendent of leisure services serves as the park district's liaison, and is involved in candidate selection, training and orientation, and continuing communication with the village police department.

Because of its seasonal nature, college students and/or graduates were the desired candidates. The three final candidates selected had a combination of education and experience in law enforcement, social work, and parks and recreation. In addition, they spoke Spanish as a second language.

The candidates attended a week-long training session with the Wheeling Police Department. In addition, the park district conducted a full-day session focusing on general district information, the district's Ordinance Code Book, the role of the park community service officer and on-site visits of each park.

Park police officers have varied responsibilities.

Equipment

The officer's uniforms are designed for both comfort and appearance. They consist of long tan pants, a kelly green short sleeve knit shirt with the park district logo and professional identification, and a lined kelly green jacket with identical logos.

A transformed police vehicle with specific program markings and amber rooftop lights is utilized. The officers work on a rotating five days on, two days off schedule totaling 40 hours per week. This schedule is somewhat flexible but still provides patrol for a minimum of eight hours each day of the week.

To date, the Park Community Service Officer Program has received favorable response from park users, the general community and both village and park district staffs. Cooperation and communication between the police department and the park district has also been enhanced by the program.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: John C. Muno is the superintendent of leisure services for the Wheeling Park District.

Illinois Parks and Recreation                                 20                                       November/December 1985