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Kankakee police report staffing shortfall, expanded camera network; council approves $105,343.06 in bills
Summary
Police officials told the April 8 public safety meeting the department has 64 officers (budgeted for 67), ongoing recruitment and training, expanded deployment of Verkada cameras and LPRs, and overtime and equipment expenditures; the council approved $105,343.06 in bills for the department.
A police official reported at the April 8 Kankakee public safety meeting that the department currently has 64 sworn officers while the budgeted strength is 67, and that one officer is expected to leave for another position this month.
The official said patrol staffing stands at 39 officers, with eight in investigations, and other specialty assignments including a school resource officer and a proactive operations unit. The hiring eligibility list is exhausted; new testing and recruitment are planned.
The department reported recovering four firearms in March and said it currently has 94 Verkada cameras deployed citywide along with eight license-plate-recognition (LPR) cameras. Officials said LPR and camera coverage are being expanded to cover major entrances and exits into the city.
Training updates included completion of mandated active-threat and Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board training; three officers were scheduled to graduate from the academy April 21. The department reported overtime of $11,413.12 for the February 23–March 22 reporting period and expected similar costs due to recent mandated training.
A bill-payment motion for police department expenditures totaling $105,343.06 passed the meeting by voice/roll-call vote; the meeting record shows the motion carried with four ayes and no nays.
Ending: Officials said recruitment and training efforts will continue and that more camera and LPR coverage is expected by year end; no policy changes were adopted at the April 8 meeting.
