Orland Park budget proposes eight new sworn officers, 12-hour shifts and drone program

The Village of Orland Park’s proposed fiscal 2026 budget emphasizes public safety, asking the Village Board to fund eight new sworn police positions, move the force to 12‑hour shifts and expand technology for faster incident response.

Village manager George (last name not specified) told trustees the main theme of the proposed FY2026 budget is “investment in public safety,” and said the package includes five patrol officers, one sergeant, one lieutenant and one public information officer, plus a new FOIA (redaction) clerk and additional community service and detention aide positions.

The budget also includes a move — tied to a memorandum of agreement that was ratified by the patrol officers’ union with a stated 94% approval — to begin 12‑hour shifts on Feb. 1, 2026. George said the change responds to requests from patrol officers and is intended to improve officer well‑being and reduce turnover.

Chief Rossi (identified as the police chief) described the staffing need as driven by minimum‑staffing levels. He said the department currently relies on officers from other divisions to hold minimum patrol staffing (eight officers on duty at times) and that adding officers would raise the minimum to 11, improving coverage when officers are off the street for arrests, training or task‑force assignments.

“We have officers being drained constantly,” the chief said, describing long hours, exposure to harsh weather and work demands. He said the department has not increased sworn strength in about 22 years while call volumes rose dramatically.

The proposed public‑safety section also funds equipment and programs: an expanded drone program described as “drones as first responders” integrated with dispatch for faster situational awareness; a training facility already built that the village is seeking outside user agreements for to offset costs; upgraded radios and other communications equipment; and a proposal to use opioid settlement proceeds to fund a Care Solace mental‑health resource for residents.

Board members asked for supporting data on call‑volume increases that justify the new officers and emphasized monitoring overtime and turnover. Trustee Lawler and others pointed to recent residential and commercial development as part of the rationale for more patrols; Trustee Leblanc and others emphasized officer health and the operational need to avoid chronic overtime.

Several trustees and the village manager stressed the difference between staffing increases and the shift schedule: the budgeted personnel are meant to raise patrol manpower, while the 12‑hour schedule is a separate operational change that the department and unions had sought.

The chief also said the department is planning a redaction clerk to handle the growing volume of body‑camera FOIA requests and recommended a dedicated public information officer (PIO) or designated supervisor to serve as the department’s media contact. Trustees flagged the long‑term recurring cost of FOIA/redaction work and suggested pursuing state‑level changes or fee structures that would reduce the administrative burden on the village.

Trustees said they support robust training and the goal of improving quality of life through visible patrol presence, while acknowledging the budgetary tradeoffs in uncertain economic conditions.

Looking ahead: the 12‑hour schedule is part of a one‑year agreement and the village plans to monitor its effects. The police chief and manager said the organizational assessment and service‑delivery review included in the budget will provide additional operational data during the trial period.

Ending: The board will continue detailed budget review; any hiring or program authorizations would be finalized in the board’s formal adoption of the FY2026 budget and subsequent personnel actions.