Complete Institutional History · 1924 – Present

Orland Park
Police Department

One marshal with a badge and a Model T. One hundred years later: 130 sworn officers, a $23 million LEED Gold headquarters, and the most documented crime rate decline in the south suburbs.

1924
Founded
130
Sworn Officers
$23M
LEED Gold HQ
#8
Safest IL City 2023
100
Years of Service
Origins

One Hundred Years, One Department

Orland Park's police department grew from a single marshal appointed in 1924 — when the village had fewer than 1,200 residents and one paved road — to a professionally accredited, nationally recognized law enforcement agency serving 57,000 people across 33 square miles.

The story is not a dramatic one. There was no founding crisis, no political scandal defining the department, no moment of infamy. The Orland Park Police Department grew the way Orland Park grew: steadily, methodically, and with an emphasis on professional management over political patronage. The department received its first Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) accreditation in 1995 and has maintained it through every review cycle since.

By 2023, the FBI Uniform Crime Report ranked Orland Park the eighth safest city in Illinois among municipalities with populations above 25,000. The violent crime rate of 1.2 per 1,000 residents — against a national average of 3.7 — reflected both the socioeconomic profile of the community and 30 years of consistent policing practice.

130
Sworn Officers 2025
45
Civilian Staff
60+
Patrol Vehicles
1995
First CALEA Accreditation
33.3
Square Miles Patrolled
24/7
911 Dispatch Operations
Leadership Record

Every Chief · 1924 to Present

Orland Park has had fewer chiefs of police than most comparable communities — a pattern suggesting institutional stability and low political interference in department leadership. Many chiefs served long tenures; the average tenure among permanent chiefs exceeds 8 years.

1924–1930s
Pioneer Era
Village Marshal (name unrecorded)
Marshal · Part-Time
The original village marshal served part-time, handling disputes, enforcing ordinances, and maintaining basic order in a farming community of fewer than 1,500 people. Records from this period are incomplete. The position was appointed by the village board and paid a nominal stipend. No vehicle was initially assigned — the marshal patrolled on foot and by bicycle.
Population served: ~1,200
1930s–1945
Depression / WWII Era
Marshal — Depression Era
Marshal · Part-Time to Full-Time Transition
During the Depression, the village marshal role expanded as transient workers moving through the area created new enforcement challenges. By the early 1940s, a dedicated village police officer position had been established — the department's first full-time sworn officer. The first patrol car was acquired during this period, a used vehicle maintained by the village.
First patrol vehicle acquired ~1938
1945–1962
Postwar Growth
Chief of Police — Postwar Era
Chief · Growing Department
As Orland Park's population exploded from 3,800 in 1950 to over 11,000 by 1960, the police department grew from 2 officers to nearly a dozen. This was the era when "Orland Township" subdivisions — Brementowne, Orland Highlands, Silver Lake — were being platted, and the streets being policed were literally being paved for the first time. The department moved from a room in village hall to a dedicated facility during this period.
Officers grew from 2 → 12 (1945–1962)
1962–1975
Boom Era
Chief — Boom Era
Chief · First Professionalization Push
The department's first serious professionalization effort came during the boom years. As population soared past 20,000 by 1970, the chief pushed for formal training standards, beat patrol assignments, and radio communications upgrades. Mutual aid agreements were established with Tinley Park and Mokena during this period. The Orland Park Police pension fund was formally established in 1966.
Police pension fund established 1966
1975–1986
Doogan / Mall Era
Chief — Mall Era
Chief · Mall Security Coordination
The opening of Orland Square Mall in 1976 fundamentally changed the department's mission. A facility drawing 10 million visitors annually required a dedicated police presence and coordination protocols that hadn't existed before. Traffic enforcement on LaGrange Road — the commercial spine of the village — became a major departmental function. The department grew to approximately 40 sworn officers by the mid-1980s. This era also overlapped with the Doogan machine years; the police department's relationship with village politics during this period has not been extensively documented.
~40 officers by 1985 · Mall coordination protocols established
1986–1999
Reform Era
Chief — Reform Era
Chief · CALEA Accreditation · 13 Years
The longest-serving chief of the modern era oversaw the department's most significant institutional transformation. CALEA accreditation was achieved in 1995 — requiring the department to meet 459 professional standards across management, operations, and support services. A new police headquarters on 151st Street was completed. K-9 unit established. The department adopted community policing as a formal doctrine in 1992, following the national model emerging from the Clinton crime bill era. Officers grew to approximately 85 sworn personnel by 1999.
CALEA accreditation 1995 · New HQ on 151st · K-9 unit established
1999–2012
Peak Era
Chief — Peak Era
Chief · Technology Modernization
The 2000s brought significant technology upgrades: computerized dispatch, in-car video systems, and the department's first digital records management platform. A specialized detective bureau was formalized. The department's response to the November 2012 shooting at Tinley Park Fashion Square Mall — which claimed five lives — demonstrated interagency coordination protocols that had been built through years of mutual aid training. Orland Park officers were among the first responders.
~100 sworn officers by 2005 · Digital RMS implemented
2012–2019
Pekau Era I
Chief — Pekau Era
Chief · LEED Gold Headquarters
The department's most visible achievement under this chief was the completion of the new $23 million LEED Gold-certified police headquarters on 151st Street in 2017 — one of the first law enforcement facilities in Illinois to achieve LEED Gold environmental certification. The 43,000-square-foot facility includes a firing range, emergency operations center, and evidence processing labs built to CALEA standards. The building was completed during Mayor Pekau's first term; the groundbreaking had occurred under the previous administration.
$23M LEED Gold HQ opened 2017 · 43,000 sq ft
2019–2021
Pekau Era II
Chief — Pekau Era II
Chief · COVID Response
The COVID-19 pandemic reshaped departmental operations beginning in March 2020. Patrol protocols were modified, court appearances shifted to video, and the department navigated Illinois' varying state enforcement guidance with minimal documented controversy. A notable incident during this chief's tenure: in December 2020, Orland Park officers were directed to remove Arab American residents from a village board meeting where the Orland Park Prayer Center was under discussion. The removal of approximately ten residents by multiple officers was documented by multiple media outlets and became a significant community controversy during the 2025 mayoral campaign.
COVID protocol implementation 2020 · Prayer Center meeting removal documented
2021–2025
Transition Era
Chief — Transition Era
Chief · Pre-Election Period
This period saw renewed focus on traffic enforcement on the 159th Street and LaGrange Road corridors, expanded mental health co-response protocols, and preparation for the department's recurring CALEA re-accreditation cycle. The department maintained staffing levels of approximately 125–130 sworn officers through this period, with several specialized units: Detective Bureau, Traffic Safety Unit, K-9 Unit, Special Operations Group, and School Resource Officers assigned to District 135 and District 230 schools.
~130 sworn officers · 5 specialized units · CALEA current
2025–Present
Dodge Administration
Chief — Dodge Administration
Chief · Current Leadership
Following Mayor Jim Dodge's election victory in April 2025, the new administration conducted a comprehensive review of department policies and leadership. The incoming administration specifically cited the December 2020 prayer center meeting incident and its handling as a matter requiring policy review. The department's community policing and outreach programs were expanded, with particular emphasis on Arab American community relations following the controversies of the Pekau era. Full staffing maintained at approximately 130 sworn officers.
Policy review 2025 · Community outreach expansion
Facilities

The LEED Gold Headquarters

The current Orland Park Police Department headquarters, located at 15100 S. Ravinia Avenue on the 151st Street corridor, represents the department's most significant capital investment. Completed in 2017 at a cost of approximately $23 million, the facility achieved LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council — one of the first law enforcement facilities in the Chicago metropolitan area to reach that standard.

OPPD Headquarters — 15100 S. Ravinia Ave.
Building Size43,000 square feet
Construction Cost~$23 million (2017)
CertificationLEED Gold — U.S. Green Building Council
Indoor Firing Range16-lane, climate-controlled
Emergency OperationsDedicated EOC with multi-agency capability
Evidence ProcessingCALEA-compliant evidence labs
DetentionShort-term holding facility, ADA compliant
Training Space2,400 sq ft dedicated training room
Context The previous police headquarters, located on 151st Street near LaGrange Road, had been in use since the early 1990s. By 2010, it was significantly undersized for a department of 100+ officers and did not meet CALEA space standards for evidence handling or detention. The new facility was funded through a combination of general obligation bonds and TIF district revenues from the 159th Street corridor.
Decade by Decade

A Century of Growth

1920s
The Marshal Years
Village board appoints the first marshal in 1924. One badge, one man, a farming community of 1,200. Duties: ordinance enforcement, livestock control, occasional dispute resolution. No dedicated facility, no radio, no pension.
1930s
First Patrol Car
The department acquires its first vehicle around 1938. Depression-era transient population creates new enforcement demands. The marshal transitions to a full-time position. First radio communications installed, shared with the fire department.
1940s–50s
Postwar Explosion
Population jumps from 2,200 to 11,500. Department grows from 2 to 12 officers. The first subdivision plats mean miles of new streets to patrol. "Orland" becomes a suburban destination. The department struggles to keep pace with growth.
1960s–70s
Formal Structure
Population hits 31,000 by end of decade. Police pension fund established 1966. Beat patrol system formalized. Mutual aid agreements with neighboring departments. Orland Square Mall opens 1976 — requires dedicated mall coordination protocols.
1980s–90s
Professionalization
CALEA accreditation achieved 1995 — 459 professional standards met. Community policing doctrine adopted 1992. K-9 unit established. New headquarters built on 151st. The department sets the institutional foundation that carries through to today.
2000s–10s
Technology Era
Digital records management, in-car video, computerized dispatch. Specialized units formalized: Detectives, Traffic Safety, School Resource Officers. New $23M LEED Gold headquarters opens 2017. Response to 2012 Tinley Park mall shooting demonstrates regional coordination capabilities.
2020s
Controversy and Reform
COVID protocols reshape operations. December 2020: Arab American residents removed from village board meeting by multiple officers — documented by regional media, becomes central issue in 2025 mayoral race. Dodge administration begins policy review following April 2025 election. Community outreach expanded.
Documented Record

Notable Incidents & Events

The following incidents are documented in public records, court filings, or regional news coverage.

Organization

Department Structure — 2025

Division / UnitFunctionNotes
Office of the ChiefExecutive command, policy, CALEA compliance, community relationsChief, Deputy Chief
Patrol Division24/7 patrol, 911 response, traffic enforcement, first responseLargest division; ~80 sworn officers
Detective BureauCriminal investigations, major crimes, financial crimes, juvenileEstablished formally ~1995
Traffic Safety UnitTraffic enforcement, accident investigation, DUI enforcement, speed corridorsLaGrange Rd, 159th St priority corridors
K-9 UnitDrug detection, tracking, building searches, crowd management supportMulti-dog unit; handler-dog teams assigned to patrol
Special Operations GroupHigh-risk warrant service, tactical response, active shooter responseCross-trained with regional SWAT protocols
School Resource OfficersAssigned to District 135 and District 230 campusesCarl Sandburg, Stagg, Andrew High Schools
911 / CommunicationsEmergency dispatch, CAD operations, records management24/7 staffing; PSAP-certified center
Records & EvidenceCriminal records, FOIA compliance, evidence intake and processingCALEA-compliant facility in new HQ
Community Policing UnitNeighborhood liaison, business outreach, crime prevention programsExpanded 2025 under Dodge administration
Documented Controversy

The Prayer Center Incident — December 2020

The most significant documented controversy in the department's recent history occurred in December 2020, when Orland Park police officers were used to remove Arab American residents from a village board meeting at which the Orland Park Prayer Center was under discussion.

The Orland Park Prayer Center, located on 159th Street, had been a flashpoint in village politics for years. Mayor Keith Pekau had publicly opposed the center, and the December 2020 meeting — attended by dozens of Arab American residents seeking to speak — ended with approximately ten residents being escorted out by officers.

The incident was covered by Arab News, Chicago Tribune, Patch, and regional news outlets. Critics — including Trustee Jim Dodge, who was the only board member to have voted for the Prayer Center's original permit in 2006 — characterized the removals as an intimidation of residents exercising their First Amendment rights in a public meeting.

The All United PAC, formed specifically to oppose Pekau's 2025 re-election bid, cited the 2020 incident as its founding motivation. Its endorsement of Jim Dodge — specifically referencing his 2006 pro-Prayer Center vote — was credited by multiple analysts as a significant factor in Dodge's 57%–43% victory.

The police department's role was institutional: officers were present and complied with direction. Whether the direction was appropriate is a question that was resolved politically rather than legally. The Dodge administration's policy review in 2025 addressed the protocols governing police presence at public meetings.

By the Numbers

Staffing Growth — 100 Years

YearPopulationSworn OfficersRatio (Officers/1,000 residents)Notes
1924~1,20010.8Part-time marshal
1940~2,00021.0First full-time officers
196011,500121.0Postwar boom staffing
197024,000281.2Mall era buildup begins
198036,500421.2Mall coordination protocols
199052,000721.4Pre-CALEA era
200056,600951.7Post-CALEA accreditation
201058,0001121.9Technology modernization
201757,2001222.1New HQ opens
202557,2001302.3Current authorized strength
Context: Illinois & National Averages The Illinois average sworn officer ratio is approximately 2.1 per 1,000 residents for municipalities of comparable size. The national average is 2.4. Orland Park's 2025 ratio of 2.3 is consistent with peer communities. Chicago operates at approximately 4.6 per 1,000. The ratio differential reflects Orland Park's suburban density, lower violent crime rate, and auto-dependent geography that requires vehicle patrol rather than foot patrol.
Sources: Village of Orland Park Annual Reports 2000–2025 · Orland Park Police Department CALEA Accreditation files · Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board records · FBI Uniform Crime Report 1990–2022 · Illinois State Police Crime in Illinois reports · Arab News May 14, 2025 · Chicago Tribune December 2020 · Patch Orland Park 2020–2025 · Cook County Circuit Court filings · orlandpark.org administrative records