Skokie police cite hiring gains and technology upgrades; chief seeks to unfreeze officer position

Police Chief Jesse Barnes told trustees the department made measurable hiring gains over the past year and outlined several technology and staffing priorities in the FY27 budget.

"Over the course of the fiscal year, we have hired 12 police officers, 1 CSO, 1 records clerk," Barnes said, and added that 66 of 73 candidates who took the entry exam passed, producing a larger eligibility list than the prior cycle.

Barnes described recruitment and retention as an ongoing effort and asked the board to consider allowing the department to unfreeze one sworn officer position "to continue the high level of service" and to backfill specialty vacancies such as detectives and evidence‑related roles.

Technology plans described by the chief and staff include piloting a real‑time crime center to provide officers with timely data, rolling out public‑facing dashboards to track public‑safety metrics, and creating a budgeted digital‑evidence specialist to process body‑worn camera footage and other digital evidence. Barnes also reviewed equipment and fleet work: the department replaced 17 vehicles this year (including EVs and hybrids) and plans to acquire additional hybrid patrol vehicles.

Trustees asked about the effect of increased staffing on overtime costs and about how quickly new hires reduce overtime; Barnes said new officers take months to finish field training and that budgetary reductions in overtime would phase in as trainees reach solo patrol status.

Barnes and trustees also discussed NextGen 911 capabilities, including real‑time translation in multiple languages and the ability for callers to send video or images to dispatch, which staff said could improve response and community communication.

The board did not take a formal vote on the unfreeze request at the hearing; that decision will appear in subsequent budget deliberations.