Title
Resolution Approving the Orland Park Police Department’s ("OPPD") Patrol Cruise Lights Pilot Program by Activating Steady Blue and Red Cruise Lights on Marked Police Vehicles to Increase Visibility and Deter Crime.
History
The Orland Park Police Department’s (“OPPD”) is proposing to implement a Patrol Cruise Lights Pilot Program, which would activate steady blue and red cruise lights on marked police vehicles during routine patrol. The objective of the pilot program is to increase officer visibility, enhance public safety, and deter criminal activity through highly visible law enforcement presence.
Over the past year, the Village has received numerous comments from residents expressing a desire for increased police visibility throughout the community. Research has consistently shown that a visible law enforcement presence serves as a significant deterrent to criminal behavior. This is supported by the Routine Activity Theory, which notes that the presence of a “capable guardian”-in this case police patrols reduce opportunities for crime.
Several police departments across the country, including those in Williamson County (IL), Wilmington (NC), Miami (FL), Kansas City (MO), and Worcester (MA), have adopted steady cruise light programs as part of their proactive public safety strategies. These jurisdictions have reported measurable reductions in offenses such as burglaries, vehicle thefts, and other opportunistic crimes.
Additionally, an evaluation from BetaGov, part of NYU’s Marron Institute of Urban Management, found that steady cruise lights demonstrate a deterrent effect, particularly for property-related crimes. These findings support the value of high-visibility policing through simple, low-cost measures.
Currently, marked OPPD vehicles are already equipped with the necessary steady blue and red cruise light technology. Therefore, implementing a pilot program does not require additional capital investment.
The proposed pilot program would autho...
Click here for full text