April marks the centennial celebration of the creation the Cook County Sheriff’s Police Department, an agency that has grown from patrolling Cook County with 32 sworn officers to a dynamic operation of nearly 500 officers devoted to promoting public safety, social services, and mental health. In December 1921, Cook County Sheriff Charles W. Peters proposed the Sheriff’s Office create a police force responsible for patrolling the roadways and other areas of suburban Cook County. In early January 1922, the hiring of 70 highway police deputies was approved by Cook County, and on April 1, 1922, the first 32 Cook County Highway Patrol Officers were officially sworn in. These officers were required to patrol on their own motorcycles and were paid $125 per month, along with a small stipend for the upkeep of their vehicle.
Several police stations were strategically opened throughout the county. The first station, known as Station 1, was at Waukegan Road and Dempster Street until a permanent building was completed in 1924 in Maine Township. Other locations were proposed, with one near 147th Street and Western Avenue, and another in Palos Park. Eventually, the Highway Patrol deputies were reorganized into a Sheriff’s Police force, and their responsibilities continued to grow throughout the 1940s and 1950s, corresponding with post-war suburban population growth. Sheriff’s Police have been on the cutting edge of law enforcement, implementing programs that include:
▪ Treatment Response Team (TRT): This initiative was developed in 2019 to integrate clinicians and social workers with the police department to prevent the involvement of individuals in the criminal justice system who are suffering from opioid addiction. The clinicians work closely with individuals to help them engage in treatment.
▪ Juvenile Justice & Advocacy Unit (JJAU): This unit is tasked with advocating for children who fall between society’s cracks. It is comprised of officers who have received special training on how to engage young people. It also participates in several Sheriff’s Office outreach programs and coordinates scholarships for Cook County students.
▪ Carjacking Initiative: Developed in 2021, this unit combines detailed data analyses with partnerships with automobile manufacturers and other law enforcement agencies to rapidly recover stolen vehicles before they can be used in other crimes.
▪ Chicago Initiative: Sheriff’s Police set up a permanent presence in the 15th District on Chicago’s West Side in 2018 to work alongside Chicago Police to address violence. The effort has included community policing, bike patrols, foot patrols, and deep engagement with local organizations. The initiative has contributed to a decrease in shootings and homicides. Sheriff’s Police also assist Chicago Police in numerous other areas of the city.
