Orland Park Partners with Federal Agency to Address Illegal Firearms

In an effort to combat increasing number of guns recovered within Orland Park, the Orland Park Police Department has entered into a partnership with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

In 2021, the Orland Park Police recovered 61 illegally-possessed guns, leading to 74 arrests.

To date, the Orland Park Police Department has recovered 101 guns in 2022, already surpassing the 2021 totals with 83 arrests.

Under the partnership, two sworn Orland Park Police Officers will become official Task Force Officers (TFOs) under the ATF.

The TFOs will remain stationed in Orland Park and continue to combat crime within the Village. Should the crimes involve a firearm, the TFOs will be authorized to charge the offenders under federal statute.

“This is yet another example of our outstanding police department finding ways to keep our residents safe. Creative programs like the Mobile and Targeted Response Units, and now this agreement, are why we have the lowest index crimes in 27 years and were the 8^th safest small city in Illinois in 2021,” said Mayor Keith Pekau.

“Under federal statute, those in violation of the law will be subject to more stringent penalties than if they were charged by the State of Illinois or Cook County,” said Orland Park Police Chief Eric Rossi.

The newly deputized officers will have the option to use ATF resources for investigation of firearm trafficking and will be able to conduct longer term operations, when necessary.

“A vast majority of those arrested by the Orland Park Police Department due to violation of gun laws are convicted felons with prior arrests for unlawful use of a weapon,” said Rossi.

“Many are found to be out on bond for similar charges. Unfortunately, we have grown accustomed to seeing our efforts wasted as offenders are released on little to no bond for their crimes.”

“The upcoming SAFE-T act provision eliminating cash bond will only make matters worse, explained Rossi. “Our hope is to keep more illegally-possessed guns out of Orland Park by keeping the offenders who choose to bring them here in prison.”

The Orland Park Police Department will create a work station for the ATF Agents to utilize within the Police Department when working on more complex trafficking cases or when investigating violent crimes that were committed while using a firearm.

The Department currently has a similar arrangement with the United States Secret Service, with a dedicated Secret Service Agent permanently based out of the Orland Park Police Investigations Division who works complex financial investigations.

“The goal is to make sure Orland Park remains the safe, family-friendly village it has always been,” said Rossi. “This is just another step in securing that environment for years to come.”

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Ray Hanania is an award-winning opinion columnist, author & former Chicago City Hall reporter (1977-1992). A veteran who served during the Vietnam War and the recipient of four SPJ Peter Lisagor Awards for column writing, Hanania writes weekly opinion columns on mainstream American & Chicagoland topics for the Southwest News-Herald, Des Plaines Valley News, the Regional News, The Reporter Newspapers, and Suburban Chicagoland.

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