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Police chief cites repeat-offender concerns under SAFETY Act, updates homicide probe and bills approved
Summary
Kankakee police reported November personnel and activity numbers, approved $116,974.82 in bills, updated the committee on a homicide investigation aided by camera technology and raised concerns that Illinois' SAFETY Act and court processes contribute to repeat offenders cycling back onto streets.
KANKAKEE, Ill. — The Kankakee City Public Safety Committee on Tuesday reviewed the police department’s November statistics, approved department bills and heard a briefing on a recent homicide where officers used camera footage to develop investigative leads.
Police Chief Kidwell said the department is budgeted for 67 officers and currently has 66 on staff, with nine officers temporarily not active for various reasons including academy attendance and light duty. The department reported $24,029.33 in overtime for November tied to late calls, shift shortages and reimbursable task-force details.
Committee members approved police bills totaling $116,974.82. Notable line items discussed included the city’s share of dispatch service, a cloud service for body-camera data (GTAC Cloud) for which the department plans to apply for reimbursement, vehicle-equipment purchases and biohazard cleaning costs for a patrol vehicle.
Chief Kidwell presented monthly activity numbers: 5,266 calls for service in November, 293 case reports, 105 adult arrests and one juvenile arrest, 292 traffic stops and 498 citations issued. The chief reported one homicide at 952 East Court Street; investigators located a vehicle through deployed camera technology and referred the case to the State’s Attorney. No arrest had been made at the time of the meeting, and the chief said the department sought public assistance via posted notices, including a $10,000 reward in the Robert Greene case.
A substantial portion of the discussion focused on the department’s interaction with repeat offenders and perceived limits of current state law and court processes. Several aldermen and the chief said they are frustrated that individuals repeatedly arrested on warrants are not detained long term because court appearances are missed or because violations do not meet detainable thresholds under existing law. The chief said the department has communicated concerns to federal and state representatives and hopes for changes at the legislative level.
The chief also described the department’s use of funding and technology, noting reimbursements for task-force overtime and investments in camera systems that assisted the homicide investigation. The committee asked the chief to continue providing follow-up on policy impacts and to report any needed changes to city practice that could mitigate repeated interactions with the same individuals.
