OP_102016

opprairie.com News
the orland park prairie | October 20, 2016 | 11
Orland Park Police give residents inside
perspective in Citizens Police Academy
Amanda Del Buono, Freelance Reporter
Area residents recently got just a
glimpse of what it means to be a police
officer in Orland Park.
On Oct. 8, the Orland Park Police
Department hosted the second half
of its Citizens Police Academy, the
first of which was held Oct. 1.
Residents 18 years and older
were able to register for the free
event, which took place at the police
department, and roughly 16 attended
on Oct. 8.
“We’ve done this for many years,
and it brings the community closer
with the police department,” Sgt.
Ken Rosinski said.
Attendees learned the who, the
how and the why of law enforcement
through various presentations,
as well as hands-on activities and
simulations.
This year, attendees were able
to try out the OPPD’s new training
simulator. The simulator features
more than 1,000 scenarios, and
the user is equipped with all of the
weapons — modified to shoot lasers,
similar to a video game — an
officer would have in an emergency
situation. As a video scenario is
projected on the wall, the user must
decide how to react to the situation.
Each situation can be modified to
make it different every time it is
used.
“It’s a great way for the public to
see why situations happen the way
they do,” Rosinski said.
Before attendees experienced the
simulator for themselves, officer
Chuck Barth gave a presentation
covering the most up-to-date information
on the use of force by police
officers, including the laws and statutes
the OPPD follows. Barth explained
in the presentation that the
OPPD follows the standards of both
the State and federal governments,
in this regard. He also discussed
the responsibility put on officers to
make important decisions in regard
to the use of force in high-stress
situations.
Also added to the roster for the
adult’s Citizens Police Academy
Orland Park Police Sgt. Ken Rosinski gets ready to use his taser in a simulated scenario Oct. 8 during the
department’s Citizens Police Academy. Photos by Laurie Fanelli/22nd Century Media
Irina Sfirnaciuc, of Orland Park, listens to officer Chuck Barth’s use of
force presentation.
was an exploration into evidence,
including how it is found and collected.
The OPPD began this program
with the Teen Citizens Police Academy
— which it has hosted for two
years — and added it to the adult
program thanks to positive feedback,
Rosinski said.
Expanding on the evidence portion,
investigator Doug Kein offered
a presentation about digital
forensics and processing digital
evidence with which someone has
tampered.
Although the digital forensics
portion of the class was not new,
just like technology it continually
evolves, Rosinski said.
This year, Kein also discussed Internet
safety, as well, both when it
comes to personal information and
when it comes to the safety of children
who are using the Internet.
The OPPD’s Crisis Intervention
Team, which was started in 2015,
also offered a presentation about its
role in crisis situations. Many attendees
said that they had not previously
heard about the CIT.
“Everybody should know about
that,” said Marilyn Krezwick, an
Orland Park resident who attended
the academy with her husband,
Chuck.
Chuck previously served as a representative
in the Illinois General
Assembly and as mayor of the Village
of Calumet Park. He said that
he was curious to see how things
have evolved since his service.
“I’m retired now, and my wife
and I have lived in Orland Park for
almost 30 years now,” Chuck said.
“I just wanted to see and learn about
the best police department around.
… I expected the best from the
Orland Police Department, and I
found that it’s here.”
School bus
driver allegedly
strikes D135
child in face
Bill Jones, Editor
A 63-year-old
bus driver from
Alsip allegedly
struck a 4-yearold
child with
special needs
Oct. 7 aboard a Bell
school bus.
Linda A. Bell, of 12345 S.
Benck Drive, was charged with
one count of aggravated battery
to a child, a Class 3 felony, following
the alleged incident.
The Orland Park Police Department
was notified by Orland
School District 135 regarding
the incident involving
the child, who attends one of
the district’s schools, according
to a press release issued Oct.
10 by the police department.
A district teacher assisted the
child off the bus and noticed the
child was “unusually upset and
crying,” according to the press
release.
The teacher reportedly overheard
the bus drive apologize to
the child and noticed red marks
on the child’s cheek. The teacher
then notified the principal of
the school, who notified the district
office, police said.
The bus company, Sunrise
Southwest, reportedly provided
investigators with the onboard
video/audio for the bus that
transported the victim. The video
shows Bell trying to place a
shoe on the 4-year-old’s foot,
raise her arm and strike the victim
in the face one time, police
said. On the audio of the recording,
the impact of the strike and
child crying reportedly are audible.
Bell reportedly was taken
into custody at her residence.