Winnetka signs agreement to augment police force with private security

WINNETKA, Ill. (WLS) -- The Winnetka police chief says the department has a manpower issue. Starting April 1, private security will help fill that void.

"The primary goal here is not to replace the police department. This is to supplement this partnership, to provide that continued presence for our community while we're trying to recruit and retain our police officers," Chief Brian O'Connell told the I-Team in an exclusive television interview.

ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

Chief O'Connell says in just a few days the tree-lined north suburban streets will be patrolled not only by community police but by private security officers from P-4 Security Solutions in what he says is a first-of-its-kind partnership.

"They could assist us with perimeters for securing an area with the presence of our law enforcement team, directing traffic for us, following up in areas where we may have an alert or a suspicious vehicle seen," O'Connell said.

Two P4 security officers will work the overnight shift in two vehicles leased by the village of Winnetka. The total cost of service for the year, starting April 1, is $367,000, according to the chief. He says P4's primary goal is to observe, report and deter crime.

"This is the first time that a municipality of this size has hired off-duty and retired or off-duty police officers to patrol the neighborhood," said Steve Vitale, P4 Security Solutions president.

He says the Downers Grove-based company already provides similar services to neighborhood organizations throughout Chicago, and says the aim is supplementation.

SEE ALSO: Surge in executives hiring personal security after United Healthcare CEO murder

"Essentially, we're providing an extra set of eyes and ears," Vitale said.

Winnetka resident Eileen McGee is all for the first-of-its-kind public-private partnership.

"I think that's a wonderful idea: the safer the better. You can never be safe enough. Doesn't matter where you live, anything can happen," McGee said.

Winnetka resident Mark Stefanik is skeptical.

"I don't like it. So, that's straightforward enough. I'd rather pay a little more in taxes or whatever the problem is to have a community policing force," Stefanik said.

"While they don't know the community, we're going to ensure that we're going to have the same people that are patrolling and the same rotation of officers that are working in this community. So, they get to understand who are the neighbors, who are the businesses, who are the kids in these areas," Vitale said.

The only arresting powers the security officers will have are covered under citizen's arrest statutes.

O'Connell says the partnership is to allow three candidates in the process of becoming Winnetka police officers the time they need to train for independent patrol, which he says can take up to a year.