Gurnee police get help to go off beaten path

Handling emergencies in Des Plaines River floodwater or even chasing a bad guy in rough terrain will be easier for Gurnee police.

Officers now have access to a new all-terrain vehicle, which Police Chief Robert Jones officially unveiled at a gathering Monday that included Mayor Kristina Kovarik and Republican state Rep. Sandy Cole of Grayslake.

With an official Gurnee police logo and emergency lights, there will be no mistaking the special-use ATV belongs to a law-enforcement agency. Six fat tires and an elevated body are what allow the ATV to get off the beaten path.

"It gives us an opportunity to patrol some of our bike trails, areas we really can't get into," Jones said. "It'll be much more mobile and we'll be able to get people in and out those places."

Officials said the ATV will greatly assist Gurnee police if they have to handle chores in the flood-prone Des Plaines River area east of Milwaukee Avenue and Route 132. The ATV also can come in handy during blizzards or when seeking a suspected criminal.

"You can tell just by looking at it, it's a muscle vehicle," Jones said. "I took it off road and drove it myself. And I'll tell you what: I took it places that I would never have taken a squad car. It'll definitely be a resource."

Cole said she helped Gurnee secure $15,000 in state money for the ATV's purchase, a process that began about a year ago.

Another $5,000 was spent to make the ATV suitable for police work. A winch, first-aid kit, fire extinguisher, radios, rope and other search-and-rescue equipment are part of the vehicle.

"To rescue people in flooding, muddy areas is almost impossible to do with a (regular) vehicle," Cole said.

Police Officers Darren Baker and Matt Nietfeldt went through program at a Richmond farm specifically designed for ATV training. The training sponsor, Nielsen Enterprises in Lake Villa, sold the vehicle to Gurnee after a bidding process in September.

Baker said he learned how the vehicle performs and what types of terrain it can handle safely.

"It was actually an excellent way for us to be impressed with this machine, because of its abilities to basically go anywhere we need it to," said Baker, who along with Gurnee police Sgt. Saundra Campbell, will train other officers to use the ATV.

Police plan to show off the ATV at the Jon Callaghan Memorial Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving Day.