Successful Practices & Strategies Vol. 5 | No. 1 

Bellwood Police Department 

Bellwood, Illinois 

www.vil.bellwood.il.us 

Community policing element 

Community partnerships 

Problem/issue 

Strained relationship between police and public 

Problem description 

Many residents were reluctant to engage with or assist law enforcement because they felt that law 

enforcement agents were not sensitive or understanding when interacting and communicating with 

community members. 

Community policing strategies implemented 

The department realized that repairing the mistrust and misunderstanding between the public and 

police would require moving in a different direction, meeting with one another, and using methods 

outside the realm of tradition. The Bellwood Police Department decided to use a three-pronged 

approach involving community leaders, community engagement, and community policing. It 

reintroduced foot patrols in designated “hot spots.” As a result, residents and officers were able to 

engage in a more meaningful and friendly way outside of the police station and on the streets where the 

officers patrol and the people live, work, and play, all while keeping the police decorum professional and 

prominent and the public’s concerns personal and pronounced. 

Another key approach is the monthly neighborhood watch meetings where roll call was occasionally 

held at troubled spots and at the Village Hall. This engagement involves department heads and local, 

state, and federal agencies along with community-based organizations that provide the audience with 

relevant information and resources to assist them in their everyday lives. Having one-on-one dialogue 

between elected officials, the police, and the public about citizen complaints and concerns allows both 

the public and the police to listen, understand, and interact with one another while respecting their 

individual roles and responsibilities. We also learned that leaving public safety to law enforcement and 

public policy to elected officials helped us to create a cohesive community and not a divisive one. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This engagement is further demonstrated at the Village of Bellwood’s Annual Family Day Picnic. 

Thousands of residents come to enjoy the food, fun, and festive occasion while interacting with elected 

officials and officers—not only seeing them as men and women in uniform but also putting a face to 

individuals who put their lives on the line every day to serve and protect them. 

Change and/or impact as a result of these community policing efforts 

In 2015, Bellwood did not have a homicide, and since 2011 we have seen a 26 percent decrease in 

crime. This decrease is significant and is due in part to the leadership of the department—Director 

Andre Harvey and Chief Jimenez Allen—in addition to the elected local government under the 

leadership of Mayor Frank A. Pasquale and Village Clerk Lena M. Moreland. The leadership has not only 

been proactive but has also been strategic in forming partnerships between the police and the public 

along with promoting police accountability. The leadership has taken this innovative approach to 

community policing, and the approach has resulted in much-needed resources being delegated in areas 

that require additional human resources and strategic tactics. Having leaders who are proactive, 

responsive, and professional has increased the overall success of the department, which has gained the 

respect, admiration, and support of the public at large. 

Lessons learned through program implementation 

We learned that not everyone was keen on change, but through collaboration, perseverance, 

understanding, and patience, the majority of the community came on board and the entire community 

has benefited. We learned that we have to accept criticism while remaining courteous to effect change 

and work collectively in changing the public’s perception of our commitment to provide a safe, secure, 

and stable community for all residents. As a community, the greatest lesson was collaboration, resulting 

in a team approach that benefited all key stakeholders. 

The opinions contained herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the 

U.S. Department of Justice. References to specific agencies, companies, products, or services should not be considered an 

endorsement by the author(s) or the U.S. Department of Justice. Rather, the references are illustrations to supplement 

discussion of the issues. 

The Internet references cited in this document were valid as of the date of publication. Given that URLs and websites are in 

constant flux, neither the author(s) nor the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services can vouch for their current validity. 

Published 2018