Police Department

Welcome to the Washington Police Department’s Web Site

Our Motto:

"PEOPLE FIRST"

Mission Statement and Department Values
The Mission of the Washington Police Department is to place the needs o people first while providing the community with impartial, ethical and compassionate law enforcement, community-oriented services and police protection, while maintaining the highest ethical and professional principles to enhance the quality of life within our community.

As members of the Washington Police Department we value:

Life...
the preservation of life and the preservation of the quality of life.
Professionalism...
the professionalism of the men and women who serve the City of Washington.
Integrity and Honesty...
the integrity and honesty of our department's members to accomplish the needs and expectations of the City of Washington's citizens and visitors.
Compassion...
the compassion held by our department's members for victims of crime and the diverse needs of society.
Respect and Teamwork...
we treat all persons with respect and we value the teamwork between our department's members and the community.
Accountability...
we will answer for our actions and inactions, hold ourselves accountable and hold ourselves to a higher standard.
Trust...
we value the trust bestowed upon us by our citizens.
Vision...
it is the vision of the Washington Police Department to maintain the confidence and trust of the community, to preserve and strengthen community bonds, and to continue exceptional professional service with Respect, Integrity, and Compassion.

Welcome to the Washington Police Department. My name is Jim Kuchenbecker and it is my honor and privilege to serve as the Chief of Police for the Washington Police Department. The men and women who comprise this department are committed to delivering honest, impartial and ethical Law Enforcement to our residents. We are continually striving to deliver the most professional services on a daily basis to our community. We currently serve a population in excess of 16,000 people and patrol a community that is over fifteen (15) square miles in size.

The Washington Police Department prides itself for the contribution we make towards assuring a high quality of life for its residents, business owners and visitors. This is accomplished by providing a full spectrum of law enforcement programs that help to ensure a low crime rate. The Washington Police Department has a uniformed patrol division, Investigations division, bicycle patrol unit, D.A.R.E. Program, Community Resource Officer and School Resource Officer. Our agency is a member of the Central Illinois Emergency Response Team (C.I.E.R.T.) which is a multi-jurisdictional Special Weapons and Tactics Team (S.W.A.T.), we currently have two (2) Police Officers assigned to that unit. We are constantly reviewing our operations and effectiveness to bring new programs to the community.

The philosophy of community policing has now become the hallmark of our agency. Community Policing is, in its simplest terms, the Police and the Community forming a partnership through open lines of communication and cooperation to continually identify the needs and concerns within our community while collectively developing strategies to solve these concerns or issues in order to enhance the quality of life for our residents. This philosophy will continue to enhance the quality of life for our residents while developing a mutual respect and support between the members of the police department, our residents and business owners. I strongly urge you to contact our department to see what you can do to help your police department maintain the quality we are so accustom to in our community.

Please take some time to visit our department through this website. We welcome your input and suggestions. In the near future, we will be undertaking new initiatives to ensure that we remain responsive to the community needs and continue to be the forefront of modern policing. Our employees are professional and well trained. They are committed to making our department the finest police department in the country on your behalf. We appreciate your support.

Respectfully,

James W. Kuchenbecker
Chief of Police

CONTACT INFORMATION

Washington Police Department        Non-emergency Phone - 309.444.2313
115 West Jefferson Street                Emergency - 911
Washington, IL 61571                       Fax - 309.444.7511

James W. Kuchenbecker – Chief of Police
jkuchenbecker@ci.washington.il.us

AVAILABLE FORMS

Citizen Report Form

Private Property Crash Information Form

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

Part-Time Dispatcher

COMMUNICATIONS CENTER AND E 9-1-1 Our Telecommunication professionals receive 9-1-1 telephone calls from the entire 444, 886 and 745 telephone exchanges except for those 745 numbers selectively routed to the East Peoria Police Department. Calls are dispatched to Washington Police, Fire, and Rescue; Northern Tazewell Fire and Rescue; and Washington ESDA. The Communications Center is equipped with Computer Aided Dispatch and Enhanced 9-1-1 to best serve our residents.

TRAINING AND CERTIFICATIONS Training remains one of our highest priorities on the Washington Police Department. We are constantly training and preparing our officers to handle the vast array of challenges they face on a daily basis. Since the terrorist attacks on our country on September 11^th, 2001 our officers and staff have become even more vigilant and attuned to the concerns on the home front. Your Washington Police Officers are prepared & trained to face any challenge they may encounter, especially the High Risk / Low Frequency events that do not occur on a regular basis in our community. All Officers must obtain and maintain certifications in CPR, First Aid, Blood borne Pathogens, Hazardous Materials Awareness, use of force, Criminal Law, Firearms as well as many, many other disciplines. Our Telecommunication professionals must obtain and maintain certifications in Law Enforcement Agency Data System (LEADS), CPR, Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) and Basic Telecommunication Training. All new Officers must complete the State mandated 12-week Basic Police Officer Certification course at the Illinois State Police Academy, as well as our 16-week Field Training program. All new Telecommunicators must complete a 480-hour training program in addition to the 80-hour Basic Telecommunications Training Course (Central Illinois Police Training Center). All personnel must be proficient in the use of and maintain certification in the Automated External Defibrillator (AED).

SPECIAL PROGRAMS
Following is a list of the special programs performed by the Washington Police Department:

WALK & TALK DETAIL
Washington Police Officers routinely will stop by various locations within the community, such as shopping areas, parks and neighborhoods to engage our residents in dialogue to ensure that all is well. They have been trained to work with our residents to identify and solve problems and concerns as they come up. This detail has been instrumental in establishing a positive, proactive relationship between the Washington Police Department and the community.

VACATION HOUSE CHECKS
Vacation House Watch is a service offered to our residents by the Washington Police Department. This service, offered free of charge, helps protect the homes of our residents while they are away on business or travel. Our Police Officers will inspect homes periodically to help ensure their security. To enroll in this service, call the Telecommunications Center at (309) 444-2313 and provide the on-duty telecommunicator with the information regarding your home or property and we will place you home on our Vacation House Check list.

SERVICE UNIT FOR THE SALVATION ARMY
The Washington Police Department has been a service unit for the Heartland Division of the Salvation Army since 1993. This program was established to assist individuals (or families) in need of food or assistance. This assistance is typically provided to people who are traveling and become stranded in Washington. We can however, be called on to assist citizens of Washington in the event of a fire or eviction. For more information regarding this program please contact Deputy Chief of Police Don Volk at the Washington Police Department at (309) 444-2313, Ext. 113.

STUFFED ANIMAL PROGRAM
This program was initiated in October of 1993 with the assistance of the Men’s Club at St. Marks Lutheran Church in Washington, Illinois. Washington Police Officers may give a stuffed animal to young children involved in serious incidents relating to child abuse, major traffic accidents, or other traumatic events. The intent of the gift is to help the child through the investigative or police recording processes. The stuffed animal gives the child a feeling of confidence, security and provides a vehicle for bonding between the officer and the child during a time of trauma or crisis.

WASHINGTON POLICE DEPARTMENT CITIZEN'S POLICE ACADEMY

WHAT IS IT The Citizen Police Academy is a twelve week program designed to give the participants a working knowledge of the Washington Police Department. It consists of a series of classes and discussions held once a week on Thursday evenings for three hour duration. The next class will be held in February and is limited to thirty students. There is no cost to anyone who enrolls. The classes will provide an overview of the various areas of law enforcement. It is an educational and informative program that allows citizens the opportunity to learn about the issues that affect law enforcement efforts in the City of Washington. Classes are taught by our own police officers in their various areas of expertise.
GOALS This program was developed as an extension of Community Policing Philosophy. Among our goals of the Citizen Police Academy is to help the residents of Washington to better understand how the police work in their community. It is hoped that all graduates of the Citizen Police Academy will get to know more about the men and women who are protecting their community and why they make the decisions they do while performing that duty. Another goal is to build relationships between members of the Police Department and the community in order to assist in our Community Policing efforts.
WHY The Washington Police Department is committed to the philosophy of Community Policing. The Citizen Police Academy will provide a forum to improve the line of communication between the police and the community. It is our hope that the graduates will become partners with us in identifying problems and solutions to quality of life issues that face our community. Graduates will be able to take their knowledge back into their neighborhoods where they can inform other community members about the Police Department.
BENEFITS Community members will become much more informed about the Washington Police Department, which will provide for a better understanding of what the police can and cannot do. The police and the citizens benefit by meeting each other face-to-face in a neutral, friendly setting. Participating citizens get to know the person behind the badge. Police are exposed to citizens, who instead of demanding something, are interacting with them in a non-confrontational environment. As a result, police officers and citizens foster an improved relationship with increased respect for one another. Community leaders and activists can enhance their leadership efforts by gaining a better understanding of their police department.
WHO CAN ATTEND Individuals who apply for the Citizen Police Academy must be at least 18 years of age. They must also either live or work in the City of Washington. Applicants will be subject to a background check and will be informed in writing as to whether they have been accepted, denied, or placed on a waiting list for a future class.
WHAT IT IS NOT The Citizen Police Academy is not designed to make participants certified police officers. The contents of this course are of an informative nature only and it is not intended that the graduates have the authority of or act as police officers.

CLASS TOPICS

Recruitment and Training

Domestic Violence

D.U.I. Enforcement

Firearm Safety

Patrol Functions

Juvenile Law/ Investigations

Community Policing

Central Illinois Emergency Response Team (C.I.E.R.T.)

Administrative Services / Communications

Traffic Program

D.A.R.E. Overview

Use of Force/Arrest Procedures

Drug Identification

Gangs

Crime Scene Processing

Firearms Training Scenarios

AVAILABLE CITIZEN POLICE ACADEMY FORMS

Rules of Conduct

Application

Release of Liability

Those wishing to apply or just seeking more information about the Citizen Police Academy, please contact:

Police Officer Jim Fussner
Washington Police Department
115 W. Jefferson Street
Washington, IL 61571
(309) 444-2313

D.A.R.E. PROGRAM

WHAT IS D.A.R.E.?
D.A.R.E. stands for Drug Abuse Resistance Education.

D.A.R.E. is a comprehensive prevention program designed to equip elementary school children with the life skills to recognize and resist social pressures to experiment with tobacco, alcohol and other drugs. This program was designed and created in the early 1980’s by Los Angles, California Chief of Police Daryl F. Gates. The 17 lesson D.A.R.E. core curriculum is taught by specially trained, uniformed law enforcement officers, which provides for a unique relationship between the officers and the students. This interaction promotes a positive role model identification as well as a healthy bonding with a trusted adult. Officer Jim Fussner currently serves as the Washington Police Department D.A.R.E. Officer. If you have any questions about our D.A.R.E. program please feel free to contact Officer Fussner at 309.444.2313.

WHAT ARE THE GOALS & OBJECTIVES OF D.A.R.E.?
The primary goal of D.A.R.E. is to prevent substance abuse among school age children. The D.A.R.E. program targets children at an age when they are most receptive to drug prevention education and before they are likely to have experimented with tobacco, alcohol, and drugs. D.A.R.E. seeks to prevent adolescent substance abuse, thus reducing the demand for drugs. The D.A.R.E. curriculum focuses on the following objectives for student learning.

Provides the skills for recognizing and resisting social pressures to experiment with tobacco, alcohol and drugs.
Helps enhance self-esteem.
Teaches positive alternatives to substance abuse and other destructive behaviors (particularly gangs and violence).
Develops skills in risk-assessment, decision making and conflict resolution.
Builds interpersonal and communication skills.

WHO RECEIVES D.A.R.E.?
The D.A.R.E. core curriculum is delivered to fifth grade students in all of the grade schools in Washington.

WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE CORE CURRICULUM?
The core curriculum "emphasizes a no-use message" which is life-skills based and focuses on peer pressure resistance training, self-concept improvement, personal safety and decision-making skills. A wide range of teaching techniques - including interactive peer leadership and cooperative learning groups - are used to encourage student participation and response. The curriculum is updated to keep it responsive to current research findings, modern teaching methods and emerging social concerns regarding drugs and violence.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO TEACH D.A.R.E.?
To teach the D.A.R.E. program, the individual must:

Be a full-time sworn, uniformed police officer.
Have two years of prior law enforcement experience.
Undergo a screening process which includes a personal interview.
Upon successful completion of the screening process, the D.A.R.E. officer candidate attends an 80-hour D.A.R.E. Officer Training to become a certified D.A.R.E. instructor.

SCHOOL RESOURCE PROGRAM
In 1999, the Washington City Council, The Washington High School district and the Washington Police Department identified the issues and problems that face Washington’s youth. At that time the Washington Police Department initiated a special program at Washington Community High School 1999-2000 school year by writing a grant to hire an additional Police Officer that would be assigned to Washington Community High School. High School students in Washington soon became familiar with a new face in their school building – A Washington Police Officer.

The School Resource Officer program enables the Washington Police Department to work directly within the high school setting to facilitate and foster positive relationships between police officers, students, and school employees. This prevention-oriented program focuses increased attention on youth problems, concerns and unlawful activities on a proactive basis. The program's express goal has been to promote a positive learning and educational setting for high school students, and a healthy, solid environment for the community.

Both the Washington Police Department and the Washington Community High School employ personnel that are trained to deal with young people who engage in anti-social and counterproductive behavior. By pooling these resources on a day-to-day basis, we will hopefully be more successful in satisfying the needs of the community's youth. The school setting is an ideal situation for this program.

The primary goal of schools is to educate young people, so the information and messages the School Resource Officer wants to convey should be best received here. It has been the ultimate goal of this officer to deter students from involvement in criminal acts, alcohol and drug use, theft, violence, gang activity, and other forms of socially unacceptable behavior. In the past, most contact between police officers and young people has been in negative situations. By making an officer available for consultation and teaching in a less formal and more approachable situation, this program will build trust, respect and open new channels of communication.

The School Resource Officer is responsible for:

Building positive relationships with students in an effort to promote greater respect for law enforcement activities.
Acting as a resource in law enforcement-related issues.
Serving as a law enforcement resource for students, teachers, parents, and the community.
Assisting in designing educational programs related to preventing unlawful activity in the community.
Protecting the high school and middle school campuses from violations of any law.
Assisting school officials in more effective response to student and non-student criminal offenses.

Detective Lyle Baele serves as the School Resource Officer and he can be reached at the Washington Community High School at 309.444.3167 Ext. 126 or at the Washington Police Station at 309.444.2313.

BIKE PATROL
The Washington Police Department Bicycle Patrol began in September of 2004 with generous assistance and support of Mr. Joe Russell, Owner / Operator of Russell’s Cycling and Fitness Center. Bike Patrol utilizes both Full-time and Part-time Officers on the bicycles. The most important focus of bicycle patrol will be public relations and visibility as the officers patrol the many, many areas of our community that a police car just could not get into. Areas such as the bike trail, parks, the Square, the many special events / festivals as well as the neighborhoods. As a department, we realize the tactical and public relations advantage of using bicycles as part of the uniform patrol division.

PART-TIME POLICE UNIT
The City of Washington’s Part-time Police Unit is currently staffed with 16 state certified, sworn members of the department who work part-time hours throughout the year. All members of this unit have completed the same Police Academy as their full-time counterparts. The Part-time Police Unit was previously called the Auxiliary Police Unit which has been an active part of the Washington Police Department since the early 1930's and has undergone many changes and developments during the past sixty-five (65) years.

The purpose of the Part-time Police Unit is to augment the officers of the Washington Police Department by performing such tasks that would include but are not limited to:

Traffic and crowd control at the City's numerous events all year long.

Public relations at City and civic events.

Patrolling the Washington Park District's and the City parks enforcing the Park District and City ordinances.

Patrolling the school grounds, enforcing after hours trespassing and loitering ordinances.

Foot patrols in the City's Historical Square Business District and shopping districts.

Seasonal bicycle patrol on the Bike Path, The Square Business District, Shopping Districts, and designated neighborhoods.

Patrol with a full-time officer as a "second officer"

Processing, booking and transporting arrested persons.

Public relations assignments at the direction of the Chief of Police.

Assisting the Washington Police Officers with duties such as vehicle lockouts, animal control, enforcing local ordinances and parking enforcement.

Assisting the Telecommunications section with dispatching, record processing, data entry and answering non-emergency phone calls.

Emergency police service during times of disasters and local emergencies at the request and direction of the Chief of Police.

Conducting fingerprinting services for persons residing and/or working in the City.

The performance of such other support functions, as may be assigned by the Chief of Police.

Washington Part-time Police Officers must work a minimum of 20 hours per month and may work as many as 50 hours during the busy summer months when the City has many activities and events requiring the unit. Shifts are usually on evenings and during the summer months. All evening shifts and Saturday daytime shifts are supplemented with Part-time Unit Officers. Part-time Officers are expected to work major holidays such as Memorial Day and Independence Day as well as City of Washington events, along with numerous parades and many other mandatory assigned events.

Recruitment Information:
The Unit is comprised of people from all walks of life and varying backgrounds. In general, most people interested in becoming a member of the Unit do so for two distinct purposes. There are people who want to give something back to the community and have an interest in law enforcement; however, they are successful and secure in their full-time profession and have no desire to become a full-time officer. Others join to gain experience and a better knowledge of policing to help them decide if becoming a full-time officer is truly a desired career choice. Application packets can be picked up at the Washington Police Department anytime and we are located at 115 W. Jefferson Street, Washington, Illinois 61571. If you have any questions about the Part Time Police Unit, please contact one of the supervisory staff below through his email link, or by calling (309) 444-2313.

Supervisory Staff Email Addresses:
Unit Commander Jeff Stevens: jstevens@ci.washington.il.us
Part Time Sergeant Tony Maggio: tmaggio@ci.washington.il.us

CHILD SAFETY SEAT PROGRAM

CHILD SAFETY SEAT PROGRAM INCEPTION
Nationally, child restraint misuse has been reported to be in excess of 90%. This is primarily due to the numerous amount of child restraint manufacturer's and the performance based standards that mandate them. They are required to meet performance standards and are allowed to design their product in any way to meet those standards. Child restraint manufacturers make a wide variety of designs that create incompatibility issues with different vehicles. As well, automobile manufacturers have a wide range of vehicle safety restraint systems that can also add to the incompatibility problem. Typically, law enforcement seeks change through enforcement of applicable laws. The Washington Police Department wanted to address this problem in a more positive and educational manner and have certified Officers as Child Passenger Safety Technicians. The certification is obtained by attending a 32-hour course established by the National Child Passenger Safety Board.

THE PROGRAM
The Washington Police Department encourages parents and caregivers to come into the Washington Police Department for a "check-up" of their child's restraint seat. Technician's will educate and assist you in your installation of the child restraint. Please call the Washington Police Department's non-emergency number at (309) 444-2313 to schedule an appointment. Each month there are designated dates and times where technicians are available to provide this service. Please call in advance as requests outside of the designated dates and times will not be fulfilled. A "check-up" normally takes one half-hour and parents and caregivers are asked to bring their owners manuals for both their vehicle and child restraint seat to the "check-up". Although not mandatory, parents and caregivers are also asked to bring the child using the seat to the "check-up" to ensure proper fit. Child restraints can also be installed for expectant families and newly purchased seats. Several times a year the Washington Police Department will also host Child Safety Seat Check-Up Events. These events are advertised in local papers and no appointments are required for these event days. Events are designed to educate the public and provide a community service. Events are usually held on a Saturday at a location within the City of Washington. A technician from the Washington Police Department will be on hand and will check your child restraint to make sure:

Your seat is installed correctly
Your seat has not been recalled
Your seat meets safety standards
Your seat is correct for your child

Parents and caregivers are again asked to bring their vehicle owners manual, child restraint manual and child to the event. Events will be advertised in the local newspaper or call the Washington Police Department to find out when the next event will be. For further information please contact Officer Jim Fussner at (309) 444-2313.

CITIZEN FEED BACK IS IMPORTANT
Chief Kuchenbecker and Deputy Chief of Police Volk want & need citizen feedback and commentary regarding the Washington Police Department. If any of our citizens have a problem, concern or a suggestion we will make every effort to assist them through one of our many special programs. We are aware that our citizens have an expectation that if and when a crime occurs in our community, the Members of the Washington Police Department have the necessary skills and ability to resolve or address the concerns expressed to them. Because the Police Officers in Washington are highly trained, compassionate and motivated, the clearance rate for crimes in our community is exceptionally high. In addition to our special programs, we maintain & enjoy positive communications and interactions with citizens in order to effectively confront the problems facing our community and society today.

Jim Kuchenbecker - Chief of Police
Office Phone Number - 309.444.1112
Email - jkuchenbecker@ci.washington.il.us

Don Volk - Deputy Chief of Police
Office Phone Number - 309.444.1113
Email - dvolk@ci.washington.il.us

PERSONNEL
At this time our officers work three (3) primary shifts and are supported by one (1) "power shift" to increase the staffing during time that have been historically busy. This enables us to maximize our patrol coverage, which translates into better coverage for the residents in our community.

Our current patrol shift coverage is as follows;

Patrol Shifts

1st Shift – Days	7am to 3pm
2nd Shift – Afternoons	3pm to 11pm
3rd Shift – Midnights	11pm to 7am
Power Shift	7pm to 3am

PATROL DISTRICTS
At the present time our Community is divided into three (3) patrol districts. Patrol District #1 is the east half of the City, District #2 is the west half of the City, and District #3, which was created in 2005 as a result of the increased calls for service, encompasses the areas of the Devonshire Subdivision and all the residential/commercial development north of the Route 24 Bypass. When four (4) Officers are on duty, the fourth Officer is assigned as a float car.

FIREARMS RANGE and TRAINING
The firearms range is located at Sewage Treatment Plant #1. Washington Police Officers are required to qualify on a bi-monthly basis with duty weapons and every quarter (Four (4) times per year) with the department shotgun, which is maintained in each patrol unit. All Washington Police Officers are issued a Patrol Rifle. This weapon is assigned to the individual officer and the officer must qualify with his / her assigned weapon quarterly. Presently the Department’s two (2) Range Masters maintain the Firearms Range with the assistance of Washington Public Works employees. One of the Department Range Masters is a State of Illinois Certified Master Firearms Instructor .

PROTECTING OUR TEENS
The Washington Police Department recognizes that parents face special challenges when their children become teenagers.

RULES FOR TEEN PARTIES:

Set guidelines beforehand.
Encourage small parties, with invited guests only.
An adult should be present throughout the party.
Alcohol should not be served or allowed. It is unlawful for any person to give alcohol to a person under 21 years of age.
Anyone who leaves the party should not be allowed to return.
Notify your neighbors beforehand.
Contact parents of the party-giver.
Know how your teen will get to and from the party.
Emphasize the time your teen will be home.
Be awake when your teen arrives home.

Remember that Curfew for persons under the age of 17 is 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 12 midnight on Friday and Saturday.

CURFEW/STATE TEEN DRIVING CURFEW

Persons under the age of 17 years must be home by 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and by 12 midnight on Friday and Saturday. The City of Washington's curfew ordinance is the same as that of the State of Illinois. Please note that there is a new State curfew for teen driver's ages 16 & 17, that became effective January 1, 2008. A nighttime driving restriction is in place Sunday through Thursday, 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., and Friday & Saturday, 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. For more information on the State Driving Curfew, please visit the Illinois Secretary of State website at www.cyberdriveillinois.com.

LAW ENFORCEMENT RELATED SITES

TAZEWELL COUNTY
Sheriff's Office

STATE OF ILLINOIS
State Police
Sex Offender Information
Criminal Justice Information Authority
Department of Transportation (IDOT)
Secretary of State

FEDERAL AGENCIES
(FBI) Federal Bureau of Investigation
U.S. Department of Justice

MISSING CHILDREN
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
Child Quest International

ORGANIZATIONS
DARE - Drug Abuse Resistant Education
National Safe Kids Campaign
International Association of Chiefs of Police
Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police