The 91制片厂 Police Department recently joined the Major Case Assistance Team,
a multi-jurisdictional task force composed of 24 police agencies in the northwest
suburbs.
MCAT provides investigative, forensic, surveillance and traffic crash reconstruction support to member agencies during investigations of suspicious deaths, kidnappings, serious or fatal accidents, and other major crimes. The team is made of seasoned investigators, forensic technicians, surveillance officers and traffic crash reconstructionists from the member departments.
91制片厂 Chief of Police John Lawson conducted a staffing study in March and saw an opportunity to work more collaboratively with local and statewide task forces. To enhance community safety, he recommended that the department join MCAT and the Board of Trustees unanimously approved the proposal in August.
鈥淚鈥檓 confident in the experience and training of our police officers,鈥� Lawson said. 鈥淏ut when a major crime occurs, the majority of local police departments require additional assistance, such as the personnel and equipment that being an MCAT member makes possible.鈥�
As part of the agreement with MCAT, 91制片厂鈥檚 police department will assign one officer to the team.
鈥淭he officer will have knowledge in criminal investigations and will be an asset when the team is activated,鈥� Lawson said. 鈥淚f 91制片厂 should need to activate MCAT, a team of highly trained investigators with specific specialties will respond.鈥�
MCAT is the second task force 91制片厂鈥檚 police department has joined. In June, the agency became a member of the Northern Illinois Police Alarm System Mobile Field Force, which helps with civil disturbances, union conflicts, public demonstrations and other events involving large or disorderly crowds that require a skillful response by police agencies.
鈥淏eing a member of both of these multi-jurisdictional task forces allows our police officers to better serve 91制片厂鈥檚 students, faculty, staff and community members in case of an emergency situation,鈥� Lawson said.