Show All Answers

1. Are the police officers in Glen Ellyn being trained to de-escalate altercations by using peaceful conflict resolution strategies?

The Police and Community Relations Improvement Act (50 ILCS 727) and Illinois Police Training Act (50 ILCS 705) mandate training requirements for active police officers in the State of Illinois, including the types of training referenced above.  The Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board is the state agency mandated to oversee training requirements, curriculum and standards.      

Mandated training for active police officers includes:

• Civil Rights
• Constitutional and Proper Use of Law Enforcement Authority
• Cultural Competency (including implicit bias and racial and ethnic sensitivity)
• Human Rights
• First Responder Procedural Justice (including impartiality, reasonable use of force, de-escalation training, crisis intervention team training, verbal and non-verbal communication, bias awareness, language and cultural responsiveness); and,
• Mental Health Awareness (including de-escalation training)

New officer certification through the Law Enforcement Basic Academy is a curriculum of 580 hours which includes training in de-escalation, communication in the police environment, control and arrest tactics, procedural justice and mental illness behavior.  

The Glen Ellyn Police Department also has 12 police officers that are Crisis Intervention Certified (40 hours of training) and all members of the Department receive annual training in Mental Health First Aid. 

In April 2018, the entire Department received a 4 hour block of training which included representatives from the following organizations: World Relief, PADS, Bridge Communities and the Philip J. Rock Center.

In addition to the above, Glen Ellyn Police Officers are held accountable to our standards and values through a series of systems, including:

• Our 18 month probationary period which is further explained later in this document.
• In-car cameras and audio recording worn by the officers.
• Training standards explained in greater detail throughout this document.
• Supervisory documents completed daily.
• Annual performance review by all supervisors that are related to pay increases.
• A bonus program for exemplary annual performance.

2. Are the officers in Glen Ellyn forbidden from using carotid restraints (chokeholds, strangleholds) and hog-tying methods? Are they forbidden from transporting civilians in uncomfortable positions?

The Illinois Criminal Code (720 ILCS 5-7-5.5) details prohibited use of force by peace officers.   A “chokehold,” meaning the application of direct pressure to the throat, windpipe, or airway of another with the intent to reduce or prevent the intake of air, is unlawful under the Illinois Criminal Code when used by a law enforcement officer in any situation where deadly force is not justified. It is therefore unlawful for a Glen Ellyn Police officer to use a chokehold where deadly force is not justified.  

It is the policy of the Glen Ellyn Police Department to handcuff arrestees behind their back unless there is a medical issue or physical limitation where it would otherwise be precluded (e.g,. pregnancy, broken or missing limb).  When placed in the back of a Glen Ellyn squad car, arrestees are seated in an upright position in the back seat and secured with a seat belt.  The Glen Ellyn Police Department does not use prone maximal restraint methods (e.g. “hog-tying”).

3. Are the police officers in Glen Ellyn required to intervene if they witness another officer using excessive force? Will officers be reprimanded if they fail to intervene?

Glen Ellyn Police Officers do not use excessive force.  According to Department Policy and training, Glen Ellyn Police Officers have a duty to intercede if they observe another officer using force that is clearly beyond that which is objectively reasonable under the circumstances.  Officers using any type of force are accountable for its use. Glen Ellyn Police Officers recently received a refresher training session in this topic.  In all allegations of excessive force, an internal investigation will commence by the order of the Chief of Police and where found, may result in discipline ranging from reprimand through suspension or termination.

4. Are the police officers in Glen Ellyn forbidden from shooting at moving vehicles?

Police Officers in Glen Ellyn will not discharge a firearm at or from a moving vehicle unless the use of deadly force is justified. The Illinois Criminal Code (720 ILCS 5/7-5) sets forth the parameters of a police officer’s use of force in making an arrest and including the use of deadly force.

Further, it is the policy of the Glen Ellyn Police Department that officers are prohibited from using deadly force against “fleeing felons” when the only condition for the use of force is that the individual is a “fleeing felon.”     

5. Is there a clear and enforced use-of-force continuum that details what weapons and force are acceptable in a wide variety of civilian-police interactions?

A Glen Ellyn Police Officer may use only the force they reasonably believe to be necessary to effect an arrest and may use any force which they reasonably believe to be necessary to defend themselves or another from bodily harm while making an arrest.

6. Are the officers in Glen Ellyn required to exhaust every other possible option before using excessive force?

Glen Ellyn Police Officers do not use excessive force.  Pursuant to Glen Ellyn Policy and law, officers shall use only the force necessary to accomplish lawful objectives, not excessive force. While force may be used in certain circumstances, it shall be to accomplish lawful objectives and only to the extent reasonably necessary in light of the circumstances confronting the officer. Glen Ellyn Police Department Policy is explicit that officers using any type of force are accountable for the force that was used. The Glen Ellyn Police Department takes all use of force incidents seriously and is committed to review and evaluate all use of force incidents.  

The Glen Ellyn Police Department policy states “The Department recognizes and respects the value of all human life and dignity without prejudice to anyone.” In the past ten years (2009-2019), the Glen Ellyn Police Department has not utilized lethal force involving the discharge of a weapon, accounting for more than 3,100 arrests.   In the event that a weapon was discharged, our policy mandates that an investigation by the DuPage County States Attorney’s Office and/or the Illinois State Police would be initiated.  

7. Are the officers in Glen Ellyn required to report each time they threaten to or use force on civilians?

Yes.  Policies of the Glen Ellyn Police Department provide for report and review in each instance when an officer is involved in any incident requiring the use of force beyond the routine act of handcuffing.  Whenever an officer is involved in any incident beyond the routine act of handcuffing, a post event report is written and a review of the incident is conducted by supervisory staff.  The Glen Ellyn Police Department takes all use of force incidents seriously and is committed to review and evaluate all use of force incidents.

8. Are the officers in Glen Ellyn thoroughly vetted to ensure that they do not have a history with abuse, racism, xenophobia, homophobia / transphobia, or discrimination?

Yes.  The Glen Ellyn Board of Fire and Police Commissioners is responsible for recruiting, selecting and appointing qualified candidates for positions as Police Officer.   The Police recruitment and selection process is a comprehensive and thorough process involving the following elements:

• Written application with references and acquaintances
• Written examination
• Initial Oral interview 
• Polygraph examination
• Background check/investigation 
• Second Oral Interview
• Medical examination
• Psychological examination

The portions of the officer selection process that would most directly screen for candidates with a history of abuse, discrimination or bias as referenced above are listed above in bold.

Once an officer is hired they are sent to a certified police academy for 14 weeks of intensive training, including topics that are mentioned herein.  Upon their return to the Department they undergo a minimum of 16 weeks field training with a variety of experienced officers to present the most well rounded training possible. This method allows for regular meetings among the Field Training Officers and the program supervisor to discuss any training issues and have those concerns addressed. 

For more than a year after completing training, Officers are in a “probationary” status where their performance is closely monitored.  Should an officer not meet standards and improve documented deficiencies during this time, they can be released from employment by the Chief. Since 2003, the Department has hired 65 Police Officers. As of June, 2020, twenty-nine (45%) of those officers did not satisfactorily complete the probationary phase of employment.  This is indicative of the highly selective nature and high standards set for the Glen Ellyn Police Department.

9. Are the officers in Glen Ellyn trained to perform and seek necessary medical action after using excessive force?

Glen Ellyn Police Officers do not use excessive force.  It is the policy of the Glen Ellyn Police Department that if an injury is alleged or results from a police officer’s use of force, it shall be the involved officer’s responsibility to ensure that adequate medical care is made available to the injured party as soon as practicable.  

Protocol for providing medical aid includes notification of the supervisor and summoning of medical assistance (paramedic) and documentation of the incident overseen by a supervisor to include photographs of injuries, interviews of witnesses and a written report. Additionally, all Glen Ellyn police officers are trained in first aid, CPR and the medical administration of Narcan.     

10. Is there an early intervention system enforced to correct officers who use excessive force? Additionally, how many complaints does an officer have to receive before they are reprimanded or terminated?

Glen Ellyn Police Officers do not use excessive force.  The Glen Ellyn Police Department records, reviews and evaluates every incident that involves use of force by an officer.   A full accounting of all use of force incidents is forwarded to the Village Manager annually. 

The Glen Ellyn Police Department takes all use of force incidents seriously and is committed to review and evaluate all use of force incidents. Therefore, there is no specific number of complaints that will warrant a predetermined level of discipline.   Discipline up to and including reprimand, suspension, or termination may result from a single incident, where warranted, based upon the totality of the circumstances.   

11. Is there a report on civilian deaths that occurred in custody as a result of use of excessive force by a police officer?

Glen Ellyn Police Officers do not use excessive force.  There have been no civilian deaths that have occurred in the custody of the Glen Ellyn Police Department resulting from any use of force by Glen Ellyn Police.   In the event that a civilian death were to occur in custody, for any reason, Police Department Policy would require an investigation by the DuPage County States Attorney’s Office and the Illinois Department of Corrections.  In the event of an in- custody death suspected to have occurred as a result of the use of excessive force by a police officer, it is also anticipated that the Illinois Attorney General’s Office as well as the United States Department of Justice would commence an investigation.  

Additionally, since 2007, the Glen Ellyn Chief of Police has hosted a monthly community forum called “Coffee with the Cops”.  During this time, any member of the community can discuss any topic they wish.  Indeed, the May, 2015 Final Report of the President’s Task Force On 21^st Century Policing included:

“4.5.1 Action Item: Law Enforcement agencies should schedule regular forums and meetings where all community members can interact with police and help influence policy and programs.”