Cook County Sheriff’s Department to Beef Up Security in Ford Heights

Sept. 23, 2008 – Starting Oct. 1, four south Chicagoland towns will see police officers from Cook County's Sheriff Department patrol their streets in an effort to contain criminal activity.

The Cook County Board of Commissioners approved Wednesday an agreement between the Cook County Housing Authority and the Cook County Sheriff that calls for a two-month loan of two county police officers who will patrol low-income housing in Chicago Heights, Ford Heights, Robbins and Summit.

In all, the officers will help patrol 172 family housing units in Chicago Heights, 216 units in Ford Heights, 200 units in Robbins and 35 units in Summit, at a cost to Cook County taxpayers of $75,000.

"The Cook County Housing Authority came to us asking for help," said Sgt. Daryl A. Bernard.

The deputies will pay special attention to Ford Heights, which has recently been struggling to find adequate funds for the local police department.

"We plan on always having two officers and two cars patrolling the area, with six shifts throughout the day," said Bernard, adding that problems with Ford Heights started in 2001.

"There is no money for us to revitalize the police department," said Earl Bridges, Ford Heights' chief of police. "Right now, it's just three police officers and me."

The ideal goal, said Bridges, would be to send people to the police academy and form a team of 15 officers working three daily shifts.

"It all depends on the finances and when we get them," he said.

The Cook County Sheriff's office is prepared to prolong its stay in Ford Heights if necessary.

"This is a pilot project that, if successful, may be extended to 2010," said Deputy Sheriff Zelda Whittler.

The Cook County Sheriff's Department has helped Ford Heights in the past, which residents say helped crime go down. Whittler said Cook County deputies have been patrolling the area since May, when residents called complaining about the lack of security.

"It's much better now," said Kenneth Chinn, a volunteer at First Union Missionary Baptist Church, at 1301 Woodlawn Ave.

Chinn works to keep local children off the streets by organizing activities at the church. "Drugs are a major problem around here," he said, "and the Ford Heights police officers just weren't doing their job."

Tina Michaels, health coordinator at Medgar Evers Primary School, also thinks things have improved, but not by much.

"It's a little bit better," she said, "but everything is about the same." Michaels said it will be good to have a more regular Cook County Sheriff's presence because local criminals seem to respect the deputies more than the municipal police officers.

Ford Heights' mayor Saul L. Beck could not be reached for comment.