Latest news with #OrlandParkPoliceDepartment
Chicago Tribune
5 days ago
- Chicago Tribune
Therapy dog Leo takes final bowwow in Orland Park; village looks to continue program
Although Leo, the Orland Park Police Department's therapy dog, has retired from the force, the village is looking at possibly continuing the program with a new canine. Leo is leaving with his handler and companion, Officer Rich Miller, who took a job outside the village. The black Labrador retriever came to the department in September 2021 after going through training in Florida. Leo was named in honor of the Orland Park Law Enforcement Organization which, along with an anonymous donor, raised thousands that went toward the dog's care. Miller went through training in order to become the dog's handler. Leo visited local schools, comforted victims of crimes and was called on for comfort by village officers who had experienced particularly stressful or traumatic incidents on the job. Leo went to north suburban Highland Park in the wake of the 2022 Fourth of July parade shooting, and visited the bedside of Chicago police Officer Danny Golden after he was shot and wounded while off-duty in Chicago's Beverly community. 'We are truly grateful for Rich's dedicated service and the positive impact he, along with Leo, has had on our community,' Eric Rossi, Orland Park's police chief, said in a news release announcing the officer's and Leo's departures. 'Leo has proven to be an irreplaceable asset, providing companionship and therapy to those in need,' Rossi said. Miller worked full-time for the department as assistant support services manager and coordinator of emergency services. He left the full-time position at the end of last August to take a full-time position with the Midlothian Police Department and continued to work for Orland Park part-time. Working his full-time job and keeping his commitment to work part-time for Orland Park proved too much, and Miller quit the part-time position at the end of last month. 'While Leo has brought comfort and therapeutic support to many — both within and beyond our community — his adoption, care and training have been my personal responsibility,' Miller said in a letter last month informing Orland Park he was leaving the part-time position. Leo lives with Miller and his family, and Orland Park is selling the dog to Miller for $1. Orland Park Mayor Jim Dodge said Monday that, after talking with Rossi, it was decided that trying to have Leo adapt to a new handler, and vice-versa would be difficult. 'The typical practice is to have the dog go with the handler if there is a change such as this,' Dodge said. He said officials are looking to continue the K-9 therapy program with another dog, but that nothing has been finalized. 'We like the program and think it has value,' Dodge said. Leo was a shelter dog, coming from a training program in Brevard County, Florida. The training program was organized through the sheriff's police department in that county, which paired dogs with county jail inmates responsible for training and obedience schooling, according to Orland Park.
Chicago Tribune
30-04-2025
- Automotive
- Chicago Tribune
Around the Southland: Orland police promote autism awareness, Metra work, more
Orland Park police cruiser promotes autism awareness The Orland Park Police Department marked Autism Awareness Month and its Occupant with Autism program by showing off the department's new cruiser. The design's highlights include puzzle pieces wrapped around the vehicle, an autism awareness ribbon on the SUV's hood, and Occupant with Autism decal and QR code that links to the program on the rear window. The Occupant with Autism program involves using decals and a registration system that allows first responders to know people with autism live in homes or are driving or riding in vehicles. Free decals are available for Orland Park residents and nonresidents who work or attend school in the area. Residents also can register for the program without displaying a decal so first responders have that information when dispatched to the home or vehicle. 'We hope the community appreciates our efforts and will continue to work on enhancing interactions involving individuals with autism and the men and women of the Orland Park Police Department,' police Chief Eric Rossi shared in a news release. The registration form is available at Information is at AutismAwareness@ Metra Electric Line work starts this weekend Users of the Metra Electric Line will find themselves on buses for a portion of their ride May 3 and 4 and May 10 and 11 because of extensive construction as a result of the South Shore Line's expansion plans. Train service will end and begin at the 18th Street Station, with buses used instead of trains between Millennium and 18th, and the Sunday schedule will be used on Saturdays as well those weekends. The Van Buren Street and Museum Campus/11th Street stations will be closed. Buses will shuttle riders via the McCormick Place busway between the Millennium and 18th Street stations. Buses will not stop at the Museum Campus/11th Street or Van Buren Street stations. Pace paratransit vehicles will shuttle ADA riders via the McCormick Place busway between Millennium and McCormick Place stations but will not stop at the Museum Campus, Van Buren Street or 18th Street stations. Customer service agents will be available. The $650 construction project expands NICTD's South Shore service and includes track realignments and upgrades to the system that supplies power to the trains. Mental health community fair set at H-F High School Homewood-Flossmoor High School and the Live Free 999 Foundation have joined forces to offer a mental health community event May 5 in the Performing Arts Center Blackbox Theater at the school, 999 Kedzie Ave., Flossmoor. A panel discussion is set for 7 to 8 p.m. and resource tables will be available before and after the talk. RSVP at because space is limited. Host Carmela Wallace founded Live Free 999 in honor of her son to normalize conversations about mental health and substance dependency while providing young people with vital resources. The foundation honors late artist and Chicago native Jarad Higgins, aka Juice WORLD, who attended Homewood-Flossmoor. Homewood-Flossmoor families are invited to the event, which includes students, mental health professionals and community partners to break the stigma of mental health, share insights and offer support. Other presenters include school psychologist Kofi Shuck and counselor Kizawanda Olowe, both of H-F H.S.; students from Bring Change 2 Mind; Terri McKean of NAMI Chicago; representatives from SunCloud Health; Sarah Whitson of the Crisis Text Line; and comedian and parent Correy Bell. The community fair follows Shatter the Silence: Mental Health Day 2025, a program held April 28 at H-F H.S., with the goal of empowering students with the knowledge, support and tools they need for mental well-being. Stagg H.S. thespians earn honors at state contest Cast and crew of Stagg High School's play 'Antigone' competed at this year's Illinois High School Association Drama State Competition in Oak Lawn, and senior Nora Mackey and junior Sophia Bravo were named All State Cast for their performances. Mackey portrayed Antigone, and Bravo had the role of Teiresias. Other cast members were Sophia Sochacki, Simon Gallovitch, Nicholas Lellos, Aviana Salas, Brynna Siewers, Casper De Boer, Gina Rabadi, Mia Lewandowski, Byron Kelaiditis, Marcus Furzcon and Lorene Paulson. Crew members were Mariya Kunnnengode, Abigail Chereb, Sydney Anderson, Jocelyn Jimenz Noemi Rynkiewicz, Kalleigh Miskoivic, Karina Lotysz, Jack Dalton, Natalia Knapik, Mary Chapman, Matt Busch, Julian Arambula, Abigail Carlson, Andrea Bareika and Leah Anderson. Palos Park Woman's Club hosts Mother's Day Walk The third annual Mother's Day Walk Presented by the Palos Park Woman's Club steps off rain or shine at 8 a.m. May 10 at Lake Katherine, 7402 Lake Katherine Drive, Palos Heights. The walk ends at 10:30 a.m. Friends, families and neighbors are invited to celebrate mothers while supporting local causes. A 1-mile wood chip path around the lake or a 2-mile paved path along the Cal-Sag Trail are available, with water stops along the way. Local artisans will be featured, offering hand-crafted gifts in time for Mother's Day. Registration costs $30 for adults and $20 for children younger than 18; children 2 and younger are free. It's available online at The event is part of the club's mission to foster community connections and give back, with proceeds supporting scholarships, local outreach efforts and service initiatives. Bluegrass benefit boosts Frankfort's free music festival Fans of bluegrass music are invited to the Frankfort Bluegrass Festival all-volunteer committee's benefit from 6 to 10 p.m. May 9 at CD & Me, 23320 S. LaGrand Road, Frankfort. The event will raise money for the annual free Frankfort Bluegrass Festival, set for July 12 and 13. Advance tickets cost $45 and include music, heavy appetizers, beverages and beer tastings. Tickets cost $10 more at the door. Cash bar, raffles, silent auctions and split the pot raffle will be available. Parking is free. Three bands will perform: Wheels North, The Grateful String Band and Anderlik, Otto & Church. For tickets, visit
