The South Suburban Association of Chiefs of Police and Law Enforcement Target Wanted Criminals in Operation “Mike” Orland Hills, IL – Today Chief Thomas Scully announced the results from a first-of-its-kind joint operation targeting criminal activity in several south suburban communities. On Friday, July 29, 2011, the South Suburban Association of Chiefs of Police (SSACOP) teamed up with state and local law enforcement agencies as part of Operation “Mike”. The operation consisted of personnel from the Illinois State Police, Chicago Police Department, Illinois Attorney General’s Office, Illinois Department of Corrections and numerous local law enforcement agencies in Cook County. “Pooling our resources together allows each of the agencies involved to combat crime and safeguard south suburban communities through a coordinated effort,” said Orland Hills Police Chief Thomas Scully. “Each of the agencies involved is determined to reduce crime and improve public safety for suburban residents.” Operation “Mike” was implemented in over 60 local jurisdictions in south suburban communities within the Cook County area. The operation was named in honor of former Tinley Park Police Chief Mike O’Connell, who was a member of the SSACOP and recently passed away due to illness. The agencies involved in this joint initiative were activated to combat violence, increase police presence and improve safety within several south suburban communities. “The Illinois State Police is firmly committed to assisting local law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve,” said Illinois State Police Commander Terry Lemming. “We are confident our continued efforts to take violent offenders off of the streets will help make our communities safer and improve the quality of life.” There were three components of the operation: arrest warrants, parolee compliance checks and sex offender compliance checks. Each of the agencies involved provided vital resources and specific expertise which contributed to the success of the operation. “Today’s operation sends a strong message to sex offenders – if they fail to comply with the law, we will respond swiftly,” Attorney General Madigan said. “These joint efforts to enforce the state’s sex offender registry laws are critical to help ensure the safety of our communities.” Operation “Mike” began Friday morning at 6:00 a.m. and was completed by 2:00 p.m.; however, several police agencies may continue their enforcement efforts throughout the weekend. The combined efforts of the agencies involved resulted in the following enforcement activity: IDOC Parolee Compliance Checks:
17 parolees were checked for compliance: 2 parolees were positive for drug usage
Four Arrests were made for Possession of Cannabis, and Unlawful Use of a Weapon: Sex Offender Compliance Checks: 11 sex offenders were checked for compliance Warrant Arrests: 51 warrants were executed - charges range from Deceptive Practices to Strong Armed Robbery A total of 55 arrests were made, and all individuals were taken into custody without incident. The hard work, invaluable resources and commitment of the agencies involved contributed to the overall success of the operation. Future joint operations are already being planned based on the outcome of Operation “Mike” and the availability of law enforcement resources. The public is asked to remain vigilant and report suspicious behavior and criminal activity to their local police agency. The public is reminded that an individual is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. | 
