A Mount Prospect police officer checks on a business.
Daily Herald file photo, May, 1981
This week's #TBT Gallery takes a look back at police departments from Bensenville to Mundelein, who serve and protect as the motto goes.
The Mount Prospect Police Department is one of the older departments, dating back to early in the 20th century with a police chief and a single patrolman. Today it's one of the most modern departments in the Northwest Suburbs.
The Palatine Police Department dates back even further to the 1800s when their first two policemen were appointed. One of the more humorous pictures in the gallery is of a smiling bunch of Elk Grove Village policemen receiving new uniforms in 1965.
A more dramatic picture is of a long snaking line of squad cars forming a funeral procession for the late Lake County Sheriff "Mickey" Babcox in 1988. The oldest picture in the gallery is of then Palatine Police Chief Robert R. Centner taking a call in his office in 1964.
A state trooper trains his radar on Northwest Tollway motorists.
Daily Herald file photo, June, 1981
Bloomingdale police Cpl. Rich Blair demonstrates an electronic stun gun.
Daily Herald file photo, January, 1986
Squad cars form a funeral procession for Lake County Sheriff "Mickey" Babcox.
Daily Herald file photo, March, 1988
Computers in police cars draw inspector Terry Gibson (seated) and Ptl. Bill Roscop's interest.
Daily Herald file photo, October, 1988
Villa Park Police Chaplin Richard Jacklin talks with officer Greg Cicero in his squad car.
Daily Herald file photo, March, 1994
Smoke pours from a Greyhound bus after heavily armed police fired tear gas into the bus to roust a possible murder suspect. No one was in the bus.
Daily Herald file photo, May, 1994
State Trooper Brad Flores and his police dog partner "Max" check out a car during a roadblock.
Daily Herald file photo, June, 1991
Mundelein Police Officer Steve Roy on foot patrol in downtown Mundelein.
Daily Herald file photo, January, 1993
District 3 Illinois State policemen, Harry Canizares and Mike Musiol proceed with caution through a building during a training exercise.
Daily Herald file photo, November, 1991
A police dog demonstration at the Wheeling Village Hall by the Wheeling Police Department.
Daily Herald file photo, March 1975
A police dog demonstration at the Wheeling Village Hall by the Wheeling Police Department.
Daily Herald file photo, March 1975
Cops washing cars at a Bensenville car wash.
Daily Herald file photo, September, 1968
A Bensenville policeman holds a young lad.
Daily Herald file photo, August, 1967
A Bensenville policeman directs traffic in a construction zone.
Daily Herald file photo, August, 1967
A law enforcement officer aims his gun during a demonstration.
Daily Herald file photo, August, 1967
A happy bunch of Elk Grove Village police officers get brand spanking new uniforms.
Daily Herald file photo, April, 1965
A police officer displays a cache of weapons the Palatine Police Department had confiscated.
Daily Herald file photo, April, 1965
Members of the Rolling Meadows Police Department admire their sharpshooting trophies.
Daily Herald file photo, May, 1965
Palatine Police Chief Robert R. Centner takes a call in his office in 1964.
Daily Herald file photo, September, 1964
A Palatine Police officer secures the door to a jail cell.
Daily Herald file photo, September, 1964
A police woman is assigned to a playground in Mount Prospect.
Daily Herald file photo, June, 1966
Mount Prospect Police line up for a police parade to Randhurst.
Daily Herald file photo, June, 1966
Mount Prospect Police line up for a police parade to Randhurst.
Daily Herald file photo, June, 1966