[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6300633,"mediaKeyId","2492809-fa027ecbe42d692e71468e8867b2036c","parentId",2492809,"title","Kankakee police report staffing shortfall, expand camera program and approve $91,431.33 in bills","audioSeconds",184,"startMs",138000,"endMs",322000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2492809-fa027ecbe42d692e71468e8867b2036c&start=138&end=322","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2492809-fa027ecbe42d692e71468e8867b2036c/thumbnail_138000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6300633/Kankakee-City/Kankakee-County/Illinois/Kankakee-police-report-staffing-shortfall-expand-camera-program-and-approve-9143133-in-bills","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6300633-f7b1ccf090471a92a11a6765c2a3204e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771107135&Signature=byTDBEzAkFK3dd3MmRCh-piLxQsZIvJNxbtaNOld-hc2cTIUf4BQD2kbPC6G2K-op7qnaqUIIEkLPe35R3f5mJQ8mPA7TSha0iwcQGBN~CdA1p3AKxaTvSeZe1BpZV5uUCTSScNzYJG4BBW1q9StdNn9C1zPqJa0jHxLTT4bcrSC2TpNIkhhApE4-q2BhFnR-ELtbsnIiSUmErtQRRNnik0GwU9DQnR0b8nOmxJNxqTeW5fsVgAXE-GA14bV0J~BbVm60ufMgjWF~dIzwJthfwNhT7U6KTDnkUuqAl55vELs2Rb~kll-P0bgL31GjKmVkOteAO9L2ARoHA8W49K8Xg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Kankakee, IL","date","2025-03-04T23:20:12Z","article","Kankakee City Police Chief reported the department has 65 sworn officers in place compared with an authorized staffing level of 67 and described an ongoing deployment of surveillance technology, while the Public Safety Committee approved $91,431.33 in police-related bills.

The staffing and operations update came during the Public Safety Committee meeting on March 5. \"We currently have 65 sworn police officers,\" Police Chief Kidwell said, listing patrol, investigations and other unit assignments and reporting 10 candidates on the hiring list and reserved slots at the Police Training Institute in Champaign for May and December classes.

Chief Kidwell provided equipment and operations details: the department has about 175 Verkada cameras citywide and is deploying license-plate-recognition (LPR) cameras with the goal of covering ‘‘all of our entrances and exits’’ by the end of the year. \"Our goal is to get, all of our entrances and exits covered. Hopefully, by the end of this year, we should have almost everything covered,\" Chief Kidwell said. He also reported the department recovered six firearms in February (K-Mag recovered one) and that officers are current on state-required training.

Chief Kidwell described a Feb. 23 shooting at 700 East Locust in which officers performed life-saving measures: \"They put 3 chest compressions on him. They put a tourniquet on him and he is alive,\" he said, adding he plans to recognize the officers involved.

The committee discussed neighborhood concerns including recent vehicle tracks and an apparent vehicle that had driven into Cobb Park; staff later confirmed a vehicle was towed from the park and the driver issued citations. Committee members asked about camera coverage of park areas; Chief Kidwell said he would check existing camera placement (he noted there may be one camera at Beckman Park).

On equipment funding, the chief said the department prepaid taser cartridges ($12,716.60 reported in the bills) and expects reimbursement from a grant once invoiced. He also said ballistic vests are eligible for partial reimbursement under a Patrick Leahy ballistic vest grant; the department pays half of replacement vests as officers cycle through five-year service lives.

The committee voted to approve the police bills, with a motion by Alderman Cobbs and a second by Alderman Jones. The roll call recorded Alderman Jones, Alderman Prude, Alderman O'Brien, Alderman Swanson, Alderman DeVaris and Alderman Cobbs voting \"aye,\" and the bills were approved.

The meeting proceeded to fire department reports after the police update and adjourned later in the evening.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Kankakee - Public Safety Committee Livestream","oneSentenceSummary","Kankakee City Police Chief reported the department has 65 sworn officers in place compared with an authorized staffing level of 67 and described an ongoing deployment of surveillance technology, while the Public Safety Committee approved $91,431.33 in police-related bills.","taxTitle","Kankakee City, Kankakee County, Illinois","taxId",4543,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6300629,"Kankakee fire department purchases lifting airbags, upgrades dispatch and approves $110,163.93 in bills",285,1123000,1408000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2492809-fa027ecbe42d692e71468e8867b2036c&start=1123&end=1408","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2492809-fa027ecbe42d692e71468e8867b2036c/thumbnail_1123000.jpg","/articles/6300629/Kankakee-City/Kankakee-County/Illinois/Kankakee-fire-department-purchases-lifting-airbags-upgrades-dispatch-and-approves-11016393-in-bills","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6300629-621d710fad8a37e807920579f9ba6ff6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771107135&Signature=De7peTSDQlbl9ZJDnFJrkA0EoZqYA-Lx23QUSPLTnJuQ9Y4bL5ADrN41mppF66ZTVqbg0wyDL0JkK7l6f7QN6lHysh8Tcr3FLgIT8ME4~Glg8lwv2CQzthHJcPZ3ooXMejLLm2bK0pgp009z1SGZaDyen13FlMN66oSHfLTcVtn-d3EUlGDd0FfSoLlYvtbsFe5UN4pBfpCYuxT0GRrGIgePp-zPsTnRpBEZeJCZ7PwgeW6oPE0QhFADhTuMS3Wbr7YJ57Q66H3UGvwpw~2GnTErdyiNEPeSbO2A1ZYQHDIqRlkayYJF25paLbNwf4~CvyyDi1TVfsk6tJuGZwD-ow__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Kankakee City Fire Chief reported personnel counts, equipment purchases and maintenance costs and the Public Safety Committee approved $110,163.93 in fire-related bills at its March 5 meeting.

The Fire Chief said the department currently has 44 active personnel, including assigned staff in administration, the fire prevention bureau and community risk reduction, with several personnel off on injury or attending paramedic training. For February, the department's bills totaled $110,163.93.

Notable expenditures itemized in the report included $33,887.88 paid to Cancom, $10,190 for new lifting airbags and rescue equipment, $9,328.88 for a new digital dispatch system, $11,473.40 for higher-than-normal maintenance, and $4,155.70 for fuel. The chief said crews received in-service training on the new lifting airbags and conducted drills that included cribbing, stabilization and rope-and-knot practice.

On operational metrics, the chief said the department responded to a high number of mutual-aid calls outside city limits in February and that current calendar-year fire loss stands at $119,500. The department tracked two suspected overdoses in the city so far in 2025 and has worked with the coroner's office on overdose tracking.

Alderman Johnson asked whether the lifting airbags were a new capability; the Fire Chief replied they were replacements for equipment that had reached the end of its useful life and that crews trained on the new gear. The chief said the new engine is expected in late 2026 and the new tower ladder in late 2027 pending availability of used apparatus from a vendor.

The committee approved the fire bills on a motion by Alderwoman Swanson, seconded by Alderman DeVaris; the roll call recorded Alderman Jones, Alderman Prude, Alderman O'Brien, Alderman Swanson, Alderman Novaros and Alderman Cobbs voting \"aye,\" and the motion passed.

The chief also reported EMS and fire billing collections for calendar year 2024 (total $4,255,489.99) and described community programs including smoke- and carbon-monoxide-detector installations, a senior \"file of life\" medical-information packet, and plans to coordinate Narcan training and distribution at an upcoming neighborhood meeting.","The Kankakee City Public Safety Committee heard a fire department report on staffing, equipment purchases (including new lifting airbags and dispatch upgrades), vehicle maintenance and EMS billing totals, and approved $110,163.93 in fire-related bills.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Kankakee police report staffing shortfall, expand camera program and approve $91,431.33 in bills

Kankakee fire department purchases lifting airbags, upgrades dispatch and approves $110,163.93 in bills