Round Lake Beach cops one of the world's best

The Round Lake Beach police have entered the ranks of elite police departments in North America.

Chief Douglass Larsson said the Commission of Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies certified the department last month at a conference in Raleigh, N.C.

Larsson said the accreditation, which places the department in the company of just under 100 agencies in the United States, Mexico and Canada, was the result of a three-year effort.

To earn the honor, Larsson said the department had to measure up to 396 exacting standards for professional management and delivery of services to the community.

Lt. Michael Scott led other department members and village officials through the process that ended with an inspection by a CALEA team in December, Larsson said.

The department, staffed by 45 sworn officers and 10 civilian employees, passed with flying colors, he said.

"We want the citizens to know they are served by a group of men and women who go out every day to be the best they can be," Larsson said. "We are very grateful for the support the community has given us throughout this process."

Ortiz appointed:

Circuit Judge Jorge Ortiz has been appointed to the National Judicial Child Support Enforcement Task Force.

On the bench since 2002 and currently the presiding judge of the family law division, Ortiz has been recognized nationally for his innovative efforts to improve child support enforcement.

The task force was formed by the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services to focus on issues in the field and to improve services to children and families.

Ortiz currently serves as a lecturer in continuing legal education programs for judges and lawyers in child support programs.

Twitter away:

"Nonverbal" cell phone communication inside Lake County courtrooms has been given the OK under the 19th Judicial Circuits rules committee.

Circuit Judge James Booras said this week that lawyers, court employees and sheriff's officers can use their cell phones to send and receive text messages while in court as long as the devices are silent.

All others in the courtrooms are still barred from using cell phones to do anything and can be ejected from the courtroom if the cell phone rings while court is in session.

Heard in the hallway:

Congratulations to Waukegan attorney Michael Nerheim and his wife, Andraea, on the March 6 birth of their son Matthew Louis.