Welcome to the Washington Police Department’s Web Site

Our Motto: "PEOPLE FIRST"

Mission Statement

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

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 14,000 people and patrol a community that is over seven (7) 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, and school resource officer. Our agency is also in the process of joining forces with a multi-jurisdictional Special Weapons and Tactics team (S.W.A.T.) 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

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
[email protected]    - E-mail

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

None

 

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 11th, 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
The 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 Ms. Carolyn Hullcranz; Executive Administrator to the Chief of Police at the Washington Police Department at (309) 444-2313.

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.

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.

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.

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:

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:

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 Auxiliary 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.

AUXILIARY POLICE UNIT
The City of Washington’s Auxiliary Police Unit is currently staffed with 16 sworn members of the department, who work part-time hours throughout the year. The Auxiliary Unit has been an active part of the Washington Police Department since the early 1950's and has undergone many changes and developments during the past fifty - (50)- years.

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

Washington Auxiliary 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 Auxiliary Unit Officers. Auxiliary Officers are expected to work major holidays such as Memorial Day and Independence Day as well as City of Washington events (Cherry Festival, Gus Macker 3-on-3 Basketball), along with numerous parades and many other mandatory assigned events.

CITIZEN FEED BACK IS IMPORTANT!!
Chief Kuchenbecker wants & needs 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.

PERSONNEL
At this time our officers work three (3) primary shifts and are supported by two (2) "power shifts" 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

PATROL DISTRICTS
At the present time our Community is divided into two (2) patrol districts. Patrol District #1 is the east half of the City and District #2 is the west half of the City. The dividing line is Wilmor Road. When three (3) Officers are on duty, the third 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 monthly basis with duty weapons and every quarter (Four (4) times per year) with the department shotgun, which is maintained in each patrol unit. 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.

OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT RELATED SITES

TAZEWELL COUNTY
Sheriff's Office
S
TATE OF ILLINOIS
State Police
Sex Offender Information
Criminal Justice Information Authority
Department of Transportation (IDOT)
Secretary of State
F
EDERAL AGENCIES
(FBI) Federal Bureau of Investigation
U.S. Department of Justice
M
ISSING CHILDREN
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
Child Quest International
O
RGANIZATIONS
DARE - Drug Abuse Resistant Education
National Safe Kids Campaign

International Association of Chiefs of Police

Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police