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Oak Park resident urges board to address police response after hit‑and‑run
Summary
A resident told the Village Board that Oak Park Police delayed response to his daughter's December hit‑and‑run, criticized the department's handling and communications, and asked the board to address what he described as a damaging reputation for inaction.
Mike Gibbs spoke during non‑agenda public comment to describe a December 20 hit‑and‑run in which his 22‑year‑old daughter was rear‑ended at Harlem and Randolph, left with the offender’s bumper and license plate attached, and sustained about $4,000 in damage. Gibbs said police arrived “over 45 minutes later,” that no immediate attempt was made to locate the offender, and that he was told by department supervisors that Oak Park would not pursue the case and that he should rely on his insurance.
Gibbs said he followed up with multiple officers and supervisors and that he had difficulty getting return calls from the day commander. “A hit and run crime had been committed by a repeat offender and nothing is going to be done by the Oak Park Police,” he said, adding that friends in other departments had told him the same. He concluded his remarks by asking board members to consider how they would feel if the victim were a family member: “What if it was your daughter?”
The village president thanked Gibbs for raising the issue and the village manager said staff would provide a response and follow up so the board and Gibbs could pursue the matter further.
