Send your suggestions
or complaints to:
suggestion@
ci.galesburg.il.us
City of Galesburg
55 W. Tompkins Street
P.O. Box 1387
Galesburg, IL 61402-1387
309/343-4181
David Christensen
Phone: 309-343-9151
Fax: 309-343-1507
davesc @ ci.galesburg.il.us
150 South Broad Street
Galesburg, IL 61401
Galesburg Police Department
The Galesburg Police Department has a long and proud history beginning in 1841 with a force of four. The current force of 53 occupies the Public Safety Building at 150 South Broad Street. There have been 39 police chiefs in the history of the department, though several of the men appointed served more the once. Chief Fred Hinman served five times between 1892-1922.
The Galesburg Police Department is authorized 53 sworn police officers. There are 13 command officers; one chief, two captains, four lieutenants and six sergeants. There are 33 officers assigned to general patrol duties. The Department has two divisions; Field Operations and Staff & Services. The Field Operations Division is commanded by a Captain. The Field Operations Division is and does what most would commonly think of as traditional police work. The three patrol shifts each work eight hours shifts; 1st 0700-1500, 2nd 1500-2300 and 3rd 2300-0700. The Special Operations Unit (Investigations) consists of a sergeant, three detectives, a DARE Officer and the Metropolitan Enforcement Group Officer. A Crime Scene Investigator from the Illinois State Police has an office at the Galesburg Police Department and assists G.P.D. at crime scenes.
The Staff & Services Division is commanded by a Captain. There are four sworn staff officers assigned to Staff & Services; one Captain, one Lieutenant, two Sergeants, along with an Information Systems Technician, Network Technician and Executive Secretary. Staff & Services Division keeps the Department running smoothly. The Knox County Communications Center is part of Staff & Services and dispatches all police, fire and EMS for Galesburg/Knox County. There are 14 dispatcher-communication clerks, 5 telephone systems operators (911 call-takers) and 3 public safety clerks working with dispatch, along with a records clerk and custodian. Staff & Services also keeps the Public Safety Building computers running, maintains the building, supervises training and maintains all evidence.
The Police Department is now home to the Neighborhood Enhancement Division (NED). The Division employs one supervisor, an inspector, secretary and three Community Service Officers. The Division is responsible for code enforcement and nuisance abatement. NED officers investigate a variety of code violations including outdoor storage, dilapidated houses, grass & weed complaints and abandoned vehicles.
The Galesburg Police Department has long been progressive in utilizing new technologies. In 2003, GPD made the long awaited move to a computer aided dispatch (CAD) system and a computer based report writing/management (RMS) system. Our squad cars are equipped with an AVL locator enabling the movement of each squad to be monitored by the shift supervisor and dispatch. The communications center is equipped with a mapping system that plots 911 callers on a digital map. Funds were appropriated in 2009 to enable CAD –in-the-car and Infield reporting. This technology allows officers to complete reports on the squad laptop and transmit that report to headquarters. Work on a major Communications Center upgrade is nearly complete. The work was largely funded through the Public Safety interoperability Communications Grant (PSIC). The upgrade included new radio equipment, ergonomic furnishings and the interoperability component, StarCom radios. The StarCom radios improve intra-departmental communication. The Knox County Sheriff’s Department will use the StarCom radios for their operations communications.
The Neighborhood Watch program is active in Galesburg. We have several “active” neighborhoods and the police department works closely with those groups. We also address specific neighborhood problems with bicycle and foot patrols, saturation patrols, and specific crime patrols.
Galesburg Police Department has long been recognized as one of the top police agencies in the region. The goal of the Galesburg Police Department is to interact with all citizens, or “customers”, in a prompt, courteous and professional manner. Our officers are reminded that we should always treat those we encounter with the same consideration we would if they were a friend or relative. Our objective in the delivery of law enforcement services is to improve and expand on the concept of “Customer Service” helping to make Galesburg a good place to live.