Prospect Heights adds 5 police officers

Prospect Heights residents could see five new police officers patrolling the streets within the next two weeks.

The city council approved the additions Monday night, helping replenish a police department that laid off six officers in November.

The council approved plans to bring back two full-time officers and three part-time officers. The department now stands at 15 officers. Police Chief Jamie Dunne said the new officers would be patrolmen.

“The patrol is the backbone of the police department, and that is where we needed the support,” Dunne said.

Mayor Nicholas “Nick” Helmer said he’s proud that the council has taken action so quickly in his tenure, as voters elected him last month. Helmer and Dunne said the new hires were only the start, depending on how the economy improves.

He and other city officials have met with the police union biweekly since elected to negotiate a deal, which was agreed to Monday with a handshake, Helmer said.

“That’s a great accomplishment, because we feel because we feel better, I feel better, my grandchildren feel better, and all of you feel better that we have a better staff at the police department,” Helmer said.

The council made changes to police hiring requirements so the officers who were laid off in November had a better chance to be rehired. The amendments decreased the level of experience needed.