Chicago suburb hires private security to bolster numbers as officer shortage continues

WINNETKA, IL - In an effort to fill the gaps during a continued staffing shortage, the Winnetka Police Department (WPD) has hired private security to work with the police.

According to ABC7, WPD Chief Brian O'Connell said that the department has a manpower issue. During an exclusive interview with the I-Team he said, "The primary goal here is not to replace the police department. This is to supplement this partnership, to provide that continued presence for our community while we're trying to recruit and retain our police officers."

As of April 1, WPD officers will be joined by private security officers from P-4 Security Solutions in what O'Connell is calling a "first-of-its-kind" partnership. The chief said, "They could assist us with perimeters for securing an area with the presence of our law enforcement team, directing traffic for us, following up in areas where we may have an alert or a suspicious vehicle seen."

Two P4 security officers will work the overnight shift in two vehicles leased by the village of Winnetka. The total cost of service for the year, starting April 1st, is $367,000. O'Connell said P4's primary goal is to observe, report and deter crime. 

Steven Vitale, P4 Security Solutions president said in a statement, "This is the first time that a municipality of this size has hired off-duty and retired or off-duty police officers to patrol the neighborhood." He said that the company already provides similar services to neighborhood organizations throughout Chicago, and that the primary goal is supplementation.

Vitale said, "Essentially, we're providing an extra set of eyes and ears." Winnetka resident Eileen McGee is all in for the first-of-its-kind public-private partnership. McGee said, "I think that's a wonderful idea: the safer the better. You can never be safe enough. Doesn't matter where you live, anything can happen."

Not all residents are as excited. Winnetka resident Mark Stefanik said he is skeptical, adding, "I don't like it. So, that's straightforward enough. I'd rather pay a little more in taxes or whatever the problem is to have a community policing force."

Vitale said, "While they don't know the community, we're going to ensure that we're going to have the same people that are patrolling and the same rotation of officers that are working in this community. So, they get to understand who are the neighbors, who are the businesses, who are the kids in these areas."

The only arresting powers the security officers will have are covered under citizen's arrest statutes. Chief O'Connell said that the partnership is to allow three candidates in the process of becoming Winnetka police officers the time they need to train for independent patrol, which he said can take up to a year.

According to NBC5, WPD and P4 Security Solutions have entered into a one-year contract to provide the additional support on a daily basis to help deter crime. O'Connell said, "They are not going to be responding to burglary alarms. They are going to be more on the observation side of things, where they're going to be able to call in suspicious things for us to investigate."

The private security officers will patrol between 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. seven days a week. The company will provide two armed off-duty officers, who will be wearing private security uniforms and driving private security vehicles. Those off-duty officers will have the power to detain suspects, and in life-threatening situations, will be authorized to draw their weapons.