Tinley Park Officials OK Ordinance Amendment Aimed At Helping Police Department Hiring Process

Tinley Park IL

04 March, 2021

3:49 PM

Description

By Jon DePaolis, the Richard Free Press: TINLEY PARK, Ill. – To ensure that the police department is adequately staffed in the future, the Village of Tinley Park Board of Trustees approved a measure Tuesday, March 2, aimed at helping bolster its list of available candidates. Trustees voted 6-0 to adopt an ordinance amending the rules and regulations for the Tinley Park Civil Service Commission during the regularly scheduled meeting. "Between backlogged police academies because of COVID-19 and the potential for a large number of looming retirements, the Village staff has been working proactively with the Civil Service Commission to ensure the hiring of patrol officers that can continue in an effective manner," Trustee William Brady said during the discussion. "Therefore, it has been recommended by the Village to begin the practice of utilizing a lateral transfer hire list in addition to current practices." Brady said a lateral transfer is "an applicant that has been awarded a certificate attesting to their successful completion of the Minimum Standards Basic Law Enforcement Training Course, as provided in the Illinois Police Training Act, who has been employed as a full-time police officer for at least two years in another law enforcement agency." He also said the Civil Service Commission reviewed the amendment at its Feb. 18 meeting and supported the change. Before the vote, Trustee William Brennan thanked Tinley Park Police Chief Matthew Walsh for his work in putting the lateral list plan together. "I know this is something that has been kind of at the top of his list and something he's been working on for a while," Brennan said. "I really appreciate all of his hard work on this one and getting this thing done." Walsh, however, credited Assistant to the Village Manager Hannah Lipman for her work in getting the amendment through the legislative process of the Village. Also during the meeting, the Village Board members voted 5-0 to grant a Class E liquor license to Cracker Barrel, located at 18531 N. Creek Drive. Trustee Cynthia Berg abstained. "Cracker Barrel, for the first time in the company's 51-year history, has started to roll out beer, wine and mimosa sales at more than 600 locations nationwide, including approximately 20 Illinois locations," Mayor Jacob Vandenberg said during the discussion. "Given the success, Cracker Barrel approached the Village seeking approval for a Class E liquor license for their location here in Tinley Park." The trustees also unanimously approved the purchase and installation of a new jumbotron sign for the Tinley Park Convention Center in the amount of $121,918. "The Tinley Park Convention Center needs a new, more modern programming sign," Berg said during the discussion. "This sign is also an important landmark entry sign for the Village. The sign will promote Life Amplified music programming in the Village, public service announcements and Village special events." Van Bruggen Signs will supply and install the new sign. Richard Free Press is a one-stop destination for the news that most affects you, the southwest suburban resident. Be an informed citizen of the town you live in and love.