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Swansea police recognized for accreditation; towing disruption prompts new rules
Summary
The Swansea Police Department received tier‑one accreditation recognition; the department also described a recent tow‑operator disruption and proposed rules (30‑day notice and up to three designated tow firms) to prevent service gaps after Classic Towing said it might stop service.
The Swansea Police Department was praised by the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police on April 6 for achieving tier‑one accreditation, a recognition the presenter said fewer than 50 agencies statewide have earned. The accreditation review covered policy, training, operations and personnel — and staff singled out Deputy Chief Keith Howard and Chief Matt Lombberg for their work.
Kirk Bergamman, speaking on behalf of the Illinois Chiefs, described the Illinois Law Enforcement Accreditation Program as a mechanism to align department policies with best practices and lower organizational risk. He told the board Swansea met or exceeded 69 standards across administration, training, operations and personnel and congratulated the department for achieving tier‑one status.
Shortly after the recognition, police staff briefed trustees on a separate operational issue: a temporary disruption in local towing services after the village’s long‑time vendor indicated it might stop service. Police and administrators said they immediately engaged Johnson's Towing of Belleville to provide interim coverage. Staff told trustees they will finalize new rules and regulations for towing vendors to take effect May 1, requiring a 30‑day notice before cessation of service and allowing the village to maintain up to three designated tow firms to avoid being left without coverage.
Chief Matt Lombberg and Deputy Chief Keith Howard said the changes are intended to ensure the village can quickly respond to crashes and arrests that require vehicle removals. The department also described ongoing communications with the existing vendor; staff said the vendor indicated intent to continue pending final correspondence. Trustees voiced support for formalized requirements that give the village operational safeguards.
No cost impacts were identified for the memoranda of understanding the department also advanced with federal task forces; trustees were told embedding federal task‑force personnel brings investigative resources and training without direct village expense.
Trustees voted to forward memoranda of understanding with a Springfield child‑exploitation/human‑trafficking task force and with the Metro East Safe Streets Task Force; both items were advanced on motions during the meeting.
