The Village of Oak Park | 123 Madison St. Oak Park, IL 60302 | village@oak-park.us
Oak Park offers a variety of services that can be accessed online from a computer, tablet or smart phone. Some of the services are managed directly by the Village, while others are third-party vendors authorized by the Village to conduct transactions.
The Village of Oak Park provides a wide range of services, from public safety programs like fire and police protection to support for housing, historic preservation and neighborhood relations. Don't see what you are looking for? Use the search feature at the top of the page.
Oak Park operates under the village manager form of government. A part-time, elected legislative body of a president and six trustees hires a professional manager to oversee the day-to-day administration of government programs and services.
Oak Park boasts excellent schools, world class architecture, shopping, dining and an extensive public transportation network. But Oak Park is more than a place – it also is a way of life. Use the links in this menu to learn more about our community and the many services available to residents and visitors alike.
Oak Park offers a variety of services that can be accessed online from a computer, tablet or smart phone. Some of the services are managed directly by the Village, while others are third-party vendors authorized by the Village to conduct transactions.
The Village of Oak Park provides a wide range of services, from public safety programs like fire and police protection to support for housing, historic preservation and neighborhood relations. Don't see what you are looking for? Use the search feature at the top of the page.
Oak Park operates under the village manager form of government. A part-time, elected legislative body of a president and six trustees hires a professional manager to oversee the day-to-day administration of government programs and services.
Oak Park boasts excellent schools, world class architecture, shopping, dining and an extensive public transportation network. But Oak Park is more than a place – it also is a way of life. Use the links in this menu to learn more about our community and the many services available to residents and visitors alike.
Here are links to some of the most popular items on the Village web site.
Here are links to some of the most popular items on the Village web site.
Oct. 28, 2016 - Oak Park residents are invited to join new Police Chief Anthony Ambrose as he discusses his community-oriented approach to policing from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wed., Nov. 9 in Council Chamber of Village Hall, 123 Madison St.
The event, which is sponsored by the Community Relations Commission, will focus on four main topics:
• Chief Ambrose’s vision of policing
• What to do if stopped by the police
• Police training process and certifications
• Positive community collaboration
Cedric Melton, Community Relations Director at the Village of Oak Park, will moderate the discussion, which comes in the wake of a series of police shootings across the United States that have in some cases strained relations between police departments and members of the public. An opportunity for questions and answers with the audience will be held at the end of the discussion.
“Maintaining open lines of communication between the police department and the residents we serve is at the heart of the community policing approach we follow in Oak Park,” Ambrose said. “I welcome this opportunity to engage in dialogue and foster a mutual understanding about the roles we all can play in keeping our community safe.”
Ambrose was promoted to Chief of Police in late August following the retirement of his predecessor Rick Tanksley, who served more than three decades with the Oak Park Police Department. When Ambrose assumed his new title he already had a well-established working relationship with community groups and citizens built during his 32-year career on the force.
Ambrose joined the Police Department in April 1984 as a patrol officer and has experience in all aspects of department operations. Prior to his role in administration as a Deputy Chief, he oversaw the department’s community policing operations, including the residential beat officer program that includes assigning officers to specific neighborhoods, stationing resource officers in the middle and high schools and co-sponsoring safety programs through neighborhood meetings.
“I’m proud of the community policing approach we’ve put in place during my career with the Oak Park Police Department,” Ambrose said. “At a time in our country when relations between police officers and the public is under a great deal of scrutiny, I believe our approach can be held up as an example of how a true partnership can develop between residents and the officers who serve and protect them.”
While plans for future events have not been finalized, both Ambrose and members of the Community Relations Commission say the upcoming discussion is intended to be the first in a series of similar events where residents can engage with Police Department leaders.
The Community Relations Commission consists of nine members and was established to assure all residents of equal service and treatment. Part of the Commission’s mission involves reducing tension within the community and acting as a hearing panel for resolution of discrimination.
For more information about the Community Relations Commission, visit www.oak-park.us/communityrelations.
Information about the Oak Park Police Department is available at www.oak-park.us/police. Residents can contact the Police Department at police@oak-park.us or by calling the department’s non-emergency number 708.386.3800.
