Forest View Police Department

10/20/2026

Community Notice -- License Plate Reader Technology

Forest View Residents and Community:

The Forest View Police Department is committed to using modern technology such as Automated License Plate Readers (ALPR) to enhance our public safety initiatives of preventing crime and protecting the quality of life in our community.

License plate readers are specialized camera systems that capture images of vehicle license plates. Captured plate images are then linked through designated law enforcement databases and alert lists. When our officers receive a potential match on the plate, this allows our officers to further investigate the reason for the hit and then take the appropriate actions if warranted.

License Plate Readers benefit our community in many ways, such as:
• Identifying Stolen Vehicles
• Providing valuable information to assist us in our criminal investigations such as burglaries, robberies, vehicle thefts, and pursuits, and was an extremely valuable tool in our homicide investigation and for our alleged attempted child abduction investigation.
• Identifies vehicles associated with wanted persons or serious felony criminal investigations.
• Further develops investigative leads and valuable information for conducting interviews to confirm when and where a vehicle was observed.
• Locate missing or endangered people
• Most importantly -- Supports Officer and Public Safety

ALPR technology is an important tool in modern policing, but recently the use of this technology has raised some concerns in the media regarding privacy, data retention, and government surveillance. The Forest View Police Department has several safeguards in place for our use of ALPR technology. This includes our Automated License Plate Reader Program Policy, which outlines Authorized Use, Accountability, and Auditing, along with additional safeguards that detail the procedural and access control systems we have in place.

The safeguards we have in place as a department are consistent with all recently raised concerns in the media. The Forest View Police Department will continue to operate ALPR technology in accordance with all applicable laws and department policies, along with established access and retention requirements. Access to information received from ALPR’s is properly monitored and controlled, and any information received is used only for authorized law enforcement purposes.

See the attached informational brochure that explains what LPRs Do -- and -- what LPRs Don’t Do.

If you have any questions regarding ALPR technology or its use by the Forest View Police Department, please contact us at any time, as we welcome your questions.

Sincerely,

Jim Ritz
Chief of Police

10/17/2026

LOST CAT 🐈

This cat was brought in last night after 6 PM if anyone knows someone that is missing their cat please tell them to contact us! We have no additional information or where this cat was found.

10/16/2026

10/16/2026

MISSING SCOOTER :(

A resident has reported a missing scooter that was last seen on October 9th around 8:20 AM near the Homeschool area.

Please see the attached photo for a description of the scooter. If anyone has seen it or has any information that may help locate it, please let us know!

Thank you for your help!🚔💙

09/29/2026

All proceeds benefit the Veterans Memorial! 💙
Please contact the Village of Forest View in regard to the raffle tickets or any questions you may have!!!

09/20/2026

🚗 A reminder!!! 💙

National Child Passenger Safety Week: Sept. 20–26, 2026

As part of National Child Passenger Safety (CPS) Week, we’re inviting families from Forest View and all surrounding neighborhoods to stop by and have their car seats checked for free by Officer Guzman who is a certified technician!!!!

🏡 Safety Check 💙
We’re offering a free car seat inspection for residents of Forest View and nearby communities. Our trained Child Passenger Safety Technician will:
• Ensure your seat fits your child’s age, height, and weight.
• Verify proper installation and harness adjustment.
• Share updated safety recommendations.

Please call the Forest View Police Department at 708-788-0318, so we can schedule an appointment. We also offer forms on our Village website and at the Forest View PD. See less

09/12/2026

🚗 National Child Passenger Safety Week: Sept. 20–26, 2026

Car crashes remain one of the leading safety threats to children, with more than 127,000 children injured in 2024, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). As part of National Child Passenger Safety (CPS) Week, we’re inviting families from Forest View and all surrounding neighborhoods to stop by and have their car seats checked for free by Officer Guzman who is a certified technician!!!!

💙Why It Matters👶
Research from AAA and the National Safety Council shows that nearly three-fourths (73.7%) of car seats checked in 2025 were incorrectly installed or used. Even more concerning, only 1 in 5 parents seek expert help when installing or securing a car seat.

🔍 Common Mistakes Found Nationwide 🤐
• Loose installation: The seat isn’t secured tightly enough.
• Missing tether use: Especially for forward-facing seats.
• Loose harnesses straps: Not snug enough to protect the child.
• Premature transitions: 19.1% of children moved to booster seats too soon, and 86.5% transitioned to seat belts before it was safe.
• Compounding errors: Nearly 80% of seats with a harness mistake also had installation errors.

🏡 Safety Check 💙
We’re offering a free car seat inspection for residents of Forest View and nearby communities. Our trained Child Passenger Safety Technician will:
• Ensure your seat fits your child’s age, height, and weight.
• Verify proper installation and harness adjustment.
• Share updated safety recommendations.

Please call the Forest View Police Department at 708-788-0318, so we can schedule an appointment. We also offer forms on our Village website and at the Forest View PD.

09/11/2026

The Village of Forest View Remembers – 25 Years

Today is a day that we SHOULD NEVER FORGET in recognizing the 25th Anniversary of September 11, 2001 – a day that forever changed our nation. We must remember the nearly 3,000 lives lost in New York City, at the Pentagon, and aboard Flight 93. We especially remember the passengers and crew of Flight 93, whose courage and actions that morning remain an extraordinary example of sacrifice.

We would like to extend our thanks to Village President David Liska for coordinating the Village of Forest View’s tribute this morning in recognizing the 25th Anniversary of the tragic attacks of September 11, 2001. Fire Chief Mark Stewart provided an outstanding overview to everyone in attendance of the events that took place at 8:46am (ET) on that horrific day.

This unprecedented attack on our nation’s freedoms, so displayed the extraordinary courage and a public safety response that continues to shape our first responder profession. We must honor the law enforcement officers, firefighters, emergency medical personnel, members of our military, and all the rescue and recovery workers, volunteers, and everyday citizens who stepped forward when our country needed them most. For us in the law enforcement profession, this attack represented the largest homicide investigation that has ever taken place in our country.

So many of our first responders on that devastating day, climbed the stairs of the World Trade Center knowing they were facing a horrific and unimaginable situation never experienced before – and possibly knowing they might not be going home to their families. The courage displayed that day will be forever remembered by most of us, as they searched for survivors, helped those who were injured (many seriously), and who they did not know while placing the safety of others before their own. For us in the first responder profession this is what wearing the badge and serving our communities is about.

Unfortunately, there are many in this country who have forgotten September 11th and who are anti-American and celebrated our national tragedy – and this ladies and gentlemen is an absolute shame. This is so disgusting and disrespectful to the over 3,000 innocent victims and their families who lost their lives that included; 343 members of the New York City Fire Department, 23 New York City Police Officers, and 37 Port Authority Police Officers along with numerous other first responders and those who serve the public. There is a certain place for those who celebrated and fail to recognize this horrendous national tragedy.

To those who responded, served in the aftermath, or continue to carry the effects of that day, we are forever grateful for your service, your courage, and your sacrifices.

Please take a moment today to reflect on those we lost, to those who survived, to those who answered the call, and to the many lives forever changed by September 11, 2001.

God bless America.

Jim Ritz
Chief of Police

08/27/2026

Recently we have been asked questions or responded to calls related to Illinois Service Dog Laws in our local park. Here is a brief summary of some important information regarding the legal protections afforded to individuals who use service animals as noted in Illinois Statutes and Federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements:

Illinois Service Dog Laws:

Illinois provides strong protections for service dog handlers through a combination of federal ADA coverage and robust state-specific laws. The state’s primary service animal protections are found in 720 ILCS 5/48-8 (Criminal Code), the Illinois Human Rights Act (775 ILCS 5), and the Guide Dog Access Act (740 ILCS 13). Illinois notably makes it a criminal offense to deny access to a service animal handler and extends public access rights to service dogs in training.

740 ILCS 13 — Guide Dog Access Act:

The Guide Dog Access Act specifically protects handlers of guide dogs and hearing dogs, guaranteeing their right to full and equal access to all public accommodations. While narrower in scope than § 48-8, it provides an additional layer of protection for handlers of guide and hearing dogs.

Personnel cannot:
• Ask about the nature or extent of the person’s disability
• Require or ask for documentation, certification, ID card registration, or special vests – the ADA does not require the animal to be professionally trained.

Under both the ADA and Illinois law (720 ILCS 5/48-8), service dogs are permitted in all places of public accommodation:

A service dog may only be excluded from a public place if it is out of control (and the handler doesn’t take effective action) or not housebroken.

Registration and Identification Accessories:

Registration, ID cards, vests, leashes, tags, and other identification accessories are not required or endorsed by the ADA

Denying Access (720 ILCS 5/48-8):

Knowingly denying access to a person accompanied by a service animal (or service animal in training) is a Class C misdemeanor in Illinois. Penalties include:
Up to 30 days in jail
Fine of up to $1,500

Training Requirements:

Under the federal ADA — which applies in Illinois — service dogs do not need to be trained by a professional or certified organization. Owner-training (self-training) is fully permitted.
There is no national or state registry, certification, or licensing requirement.

Please click on the following link for further information or questions regarding Illinois Service Dog Law:

Illinois Service Dog Laws: Rights, Access & Protections (2026 Guide) | USA Service Dogs https://share.google/MMQpmUPzT9VFHsMrb

Please contact the Forest View Police Department if you have any questions related to Service Dog Statutes.

Thank you,
Jim Ritz
Chief of Police

Complete guide to Illinois service dog laws including 720 ILCS 5/48-8, public access rights, SDIT protections, fraud penalties, and housing rights.