Aurora tops again in state for DUI enforcement

The Alliance Against Intoxicated Motorists published its annual survey of DUI arrests in Illinois, and once again Aurora is at the top of the list.

But also impressive is the work of its much-smaller neighbor West Chicago, which is eighth on the list that was released last week.

Aurora, which has 336 sworn police officers, made 479 arrests in 2025, an average of 1.43 per officer. That’s six more than in 2024.

West Chicago’s 45 officers made 212 arrests, an average of 2.71 arrests per officer, the second-highest average in the state.

The annual survey collects statistics from about 700 law enforcement agencies in Illinois, about 84% of the total. The Chicago PD is counted separately, due to its size.

Schaumburg-based AAIM says that a per-officer average can indicate the extent to which a department is concentrating on DUI enforcement. That’s the case in West Chicago, which deliberately stepped up its DUI efforts a few years ago, and where one officer alone logged 98 DUI arrests in 2025.

Aurora does not have officers dedicated exclusively to DUI enforcement, though some are specially trained to detect impaired driving, Deputy Police Chief Steve Semmet said.

“Our success with DUI enforcement is really a reflection of the work our officers are doing every day,” he said. “They understand the importance of traffic safety and take that responsibility seriously, whether they are conducting proactive traffic enforcement or handling their regular calls for service.”

Other suburban departments at the top of AAIM’s list include Naperville (4th), Elgin (5th) and Lombard (11th).

The report also lists the “top cops” who made 100 or more DUI arrests in 2025. It didn’t include any suburban officers this year, but Illinois State Police Trooper Jeremy Widmayer, who’s based out of Elgin and Des Plaines, placed sixth with 101 arrests.

“By persistently targeting impaired driving, he not only enhances public safety, but also reinforces ISP’s commitment to preventing tragedies before they occur,” Troop 3 Acting Captain Matt Wierzbinski said. “His professionalism, initiative, and exemplary service serve as a model for his peers and demonstrates the positive impact our troopers have on the communities we serve.”

You can read the full report at aaim1.org.

Prosecutors’ new pup

We like to think of criminal prosecutors as legal bulldogs in the courtroom, but behind the scenes, everybody needs a softer touch.

Enter Ruthie.

Ruthie, a 2-year-old golden retriever, was sworn in this week as a court dog for the Cook County State’s Attorney’s office. Trained to provide comfort and relieve stress for those who have suffered trauma, she’ll be based at the county’s Domestic Violence Courthouse.

“The victims we serve display tremendous courage when they come to court and must face their abusers,” State's Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke said Monday. “Adding Ruthie to our team reflects our trauma-informed approach to prosecution, providing comfort and support to victims during some of the most difficult experiences of their lives.”

Ruthie is the office’s second court dog, joining 8-year-old Hatty, a Labrador retriever based at the George N. Leighton Criminal Courthouse since 2019.

Ease off the gas

We always recommend against zipping around town over the speed limit, but you might want to be extra cautious with your lead foot this coming Wednesday.

That’s when police departments across the state hold their 10th annual Illinois Speed Awareness Day. Launched a decade ago by the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police, the event is a coordinated statewide effort to target excessive speeding.

That means more officers, deputies and troopers on the roads looking to educate and, yes, issue tickets, to drivers going too fast.

“Speeding continues to be one of the leading contributors to serious and fatal crashes, making public education and enforcement more important than ever,” ILACP Executive Director Kenny Winslow said in a news release. “Every mile per hour matters, and every safe decision behind the wheel can make the difference between life and death.”

A growing fraud

This really peeves Susan, who likes to futz around in the yard: Scammers are selling fake flower seeds.

The Better Business Bureau put out a warning about it this week.

“Scammers are selling high-priced seeds for stunning flowers that do not exist,” says Steve J. Bernas, BBB president and CEO.

It began with fake ads for “Cat’s Eye Dazzle,” which is supposed to resemble a kitten’s face. Other fraudulent seeds include teddy-bear flowers, and red-white-and-blue hosta plants for a patriotic look.

The con artists use artificial intelligence to create the images, and sell the seeds on phony websites and marketplace platforms. It’s a ruse to get your money, credit-card information and other personal information. And if you receive seeds at all, they may just be regular wildflowers, or something invasive. One buyer on an Etsy site said they received radish seeds.

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