BPD

Braidwood aims to beef up police department in 2024

Published by admin on Tue, 01/02/2024 - 3:56pm

Like police departments across the nation, the Braidwood Police Department’s staff is stretched thin.

It’s a staffing issue that city leaders plan to address in 2024.

“In the last two weeks, we had 175 hours of overtime, because we don’t have the police officers that are needed,” city administrator Tony Altiery said.

Braidwood, Reed-Custer sign SRO agreement

Published by admin on Tue, 12/12/2023 - 4:20pm

The Braidwood Police Department will continue to provide a school resource officer (SRO) to Reed-Custer schools to keep watch over students, staff, and families and visitors to its three campuses.

On Nov. 28, the Braidwood City Council approved an intergovernmental agreement with the Reed-Custer School District to provide that SRO to the district, a renewal of the same ongoing agreement between the city and the school district that has been in effect for several years.

Goodwin is Braidwood's new Chief of Police

Published by admin on Tue, 10/31/2023 - 2:27pm

The city of Braidwood has a new Chief of Police.

On Oct. 24, Bret Goodwin, a veteran of the department for more than two decades, was approved as a mayoral appointment to the position and officially sworn in.

Goodwin was appointed as interim chief on Oct. 17, following the resignation of Chief Todd Lyons, who had recommended with his resignation that Goodwin serve as the next chief.

The council also approved a benefits package for Goodwin.

View is different from all sides on Lyons’ retirement from Braidwood PD

Published by admin on Tue, 10/17/2023 - 6:12pm

The change in leadership at the Braidwood Police Department is nearly complete, as a new interim chief has been appointed with plans to make that a permanent appointment later this month.

But the story on the end of Todd Lyons’ more than four years as Top Cop in Braidwood is not over.

Lyons resigned effective immediately last week. Lyons said he was approached by Mayor Karen Hart and asked to resign for the good of the department and the city.

Braidwood PD shows fun side of law enforcement

Published by admin on Tue, 06/13/2023 - 4:46pm

When people think of the police, it’s often wiht a negative connotation, thinking of the men and women in blue as the folks out there ready to hand you a ticket or a fine.

But Braidwood Police Chief Todd Lyons has stepped up efforts to engage with the community, to make the police seem more like your approachable neighbors than people to fear.

Most recently, the department has teamed up with the Braidwood Fire Protection District, bringing together the two department’s mascots as part of social media efforts to keep the public engaged.

School, community signs defaced in Wilmington, Braidwood, Coal City

Published by admin on Tue, 03/21/2023 - 4:54pm

Local police are working together to try to find the person or persons who vandalized the signs at Wilmington High School, Reed-Custer High School, GSW High School, and the Coal City sign outside of Coal City High School.

The Wilmington Police Department posted an alert regarding the vandalism to their Facebook page on March 17. According to that post, criminal defacement took place at Wilmington High School between 1:15 a.m. and 1:30 a.m. on Friday.

Custer Park man arrested in connection with man found dead in Kankakee County

Published by admin on Tue, 11/22/2022 - 5:01pm

A six month investigation into a body discovered in rural Kankakee County has culminated in the arrest of a Custer Park man for concelament of death.

The Braidwood Police Department announced the arrest on Tuesday, Nov. 22. 

On May 7, Adam Watts, 44, of Custer Park was reported missing to the Braidwood Police Department by a family member along with friends after not hearing from Watts for months, according to a press release from the BPD.

Braidwood Police Dept. to increase staff size

Published by admin on Tue, 04/26/2022 - 5:18pm

Braidwood Police Chief Todd Lyons is looking to get staff numbers up inside his department.

The members of the Braidwood City Council approved a new hire for the BPD on April 12, who was previously approved by the police board.

A second hire was anticipated to be approved this week.

Lyons explained the process to the members of the council, adding that the hire approved earlier this month comes to the city with plenty of experience.

Braidwood PACE program to halt

Published by admin on Tue, 06/29/2021 - 4:35pm

The local 15-passenger PACE bus that provides rides for residents of Braidwood and Wilmington will halt its service next week, citing a staffing shortage.

The service, which is operated through the city of Braidwood’s police department, will be suspended starting July 2.

The city announced the halt to service via social media on June 25, noting that the service is unable to run until the city is able to hire new drivers.

The PACE bus originated in Braidwood in May of 2018, but its use has been somewhat sporadic over the past three years.

Former Braidwood police chief explains questionable $75,000 check

Published by admin on Tue, 01/19/2021 - 5:00pm

Former Braidwood police chief Nick Ficarello came before the city council to address social media comments and Sound-offs in The Braidwood Journal about business dealings during his administration.

Ficarello spoke during the public comment portion of the Jan. 12 city council meeting at city hall.

“There appears to be some question regarding a $75,000 check that was written out of the Federal Forfeiture Account. Also, a question pertaining to $150,000 loan that was taken out for the remodeling of the police department,” Ficarello said.