"Serving with Pride"

 

Palos Park Police Department Information Fall / Winter 2012 Dear Palos Park Resident: Since early fall we have been working with Mayor Mahoney preparing for two major internal retooling sessions, which we focus on during fall. Our Strategic planning is a partnership with internal and external stake holders working toward one goal, building toward the future. As we map a course, setting objectives, baselines and milestones to continue progressing and professionalizing as a public service agency. This year we will be working with our fire service and EMA partners to “washout” and debrief those major occurrences and emergencies we have had to respond to and handle this past year.
Police Chief , Joe Miller
Over the past year we have been redirecting staff outreach to educate, inform and put scam awareness at the forefront of being a community issue. The myriad of scams and cons continues to grow and we see it as a paramount concern to all residents. We would be happy to come out and speak to you, your club, group and organization about scam awareness. See it, Hear it, Report it! Community traffic safety and unsafe driving continues to be a priority with our field staff. We work to explore various concepts and campaigns to address traffic safety across the board, keeping in mind, traffic safety starts with the driver of the vehicle! This fall we unveiled our “EMBRACE IT” program founded on the principles of Exceptional Service, Measurable Success, Build Trust, Results-Oriented, Accountability, Community Outreach, Excite Pride, and Innovation and Teamwork Our agency is a full service law enforcement agency with twenty-nine sworn officers who patrol the village twenty-four hours a day. We staff our field officers predicated on peak days and times when we need the most staff available. We utilize Southwest Central Dispatch, which has an Enhanced 911 system; they also serve the Palos Fire Protection District. Several programs we offer include Child Safety ID Kit’s / Fingerprinting, a Police Cadet program for teens, an Emergency Service and Disaster Agency (E.M.A.) plan, a Vacation Watch program, Home Safety checks, The “You are Not Alone” program which provides for senior well-being checks and the File for Life program. We also offer a Senior Safety I.D. Bracelets and a tracking system for Alzheimer patients. You also may be interested in our volunteer Citizen on Patrol Service (COPS) program. We work closely with the Orland Park and Palos Heights Police Departments; we also train jointly with their officers. We are part of the Southwest Suburban Major Case Unit and the South Suburban Major Crimes Task Force, South Suburban Special Response Team, and Bike Patrol. All of which are geared to augment our operational and service abilities. The Palos Park Police Department is a dedicated service oriented organization and we place quality service first and foremost. Please feel free to call, stop in, or e-mail Chief Miller at jmiller@palospark.org. This is your community, get involved! Dan Polk, Police Commissioner Joe Miller, Chief of Police

Palos Park Police Chief Joe Miller - Biography
Palos Park Police Chief Joe Miller began his career in policing while still in high school. While still in high school, Joe became a police cadet and attained the rank of Cadet Captain. He has remained a big proponent of the Law Enforcement Exploring and cadet programs.

After graduating from Brother Rice High School in Chicago, Joe worked for the Chicago Police Department in their Data Systems Unit. While attending college, Joe started as a dispatcher with the Orland Park Police Department and became an Orland Park officer in the 1980’s. Joe attended recruit training at the Cook County Sheriff’s Academy.
During his career Joe has worked as a Juvenile officer, Truck Enforcement officer, Arson investigator, detective, patrol sergeant, lieutenant, commander and deputy chief. In the summer of 1992 Joe became the Chief of Police in Orland Hills, Illinois where he served for six years.

Joe holds a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal-Social Justice from Lewis University in Romeoville, Illinois, a Master of Science in Criminal Justice from Lewis University and a Master of Business Administration from Saint Xavier University in Chicago. He is a graduate of the Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command, Northwester’s Executive Management Program, the F.B.I.’s Law Enforcement Executive Development program, DePaul University’s Human Resource Management program and the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University’s Executive Management training.

Joe currently teaches criminology and management courses at Moraine Valley Community College in Palos Hills, IL and Lewis University in Romeoville, IL. Joe is the past president of the 5th District Police Chiefs Association and past president of the Greater Cook County Council of Police Chiefs.

Joe completed the 2011-2012 Northern Illinois University, Civic Leadership Academy for senior management in government service. In the fall of 2012, Joe begins taking part in Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business, Intercultural Management program. The program focuses on the increasing scrutiny of government agencies and their need to have personnel with solid, principled negotiating skills.