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

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.