PARTNERSHIPS HELP CURB CRIME IN ROBBINS

One of the ways Seniors in Charge and Robbins Police reach out to the community is through a bicycle and toy giveaway at Christmastime. These interactions foster connections between residents, Village of Robbins leaders and law enforcement. Photos courtesy of the Village of Robbins
One of the ways Seniors in Charge and Robbins Police reach out to the community is through a bicycle and toy giveaway at Christmastime. These interactions foster connections between residents, Village of Robbins leaders and law enforcement. Photos courtesy of the Village of Robbins

Partnerships Help Curb Crime In Robbins

BY TIA CAROL JONES

The Village of Robbins has seen a decrease in crime throughout the last three years. Leaders point to upgrades in telecommunications and hiring of police personnel, as well as stronger policing strategies.

Criminal homicide has decreased 29 percent, robbery has decreased 28 percent, burglary has decreased 5 percent and theft has decreased 26 percent, with an overall decrease in violent crime of 17 percent.

Roy Wells is the police chief of Robbins. He said a partnership between the police and the citizens, has contributed to the reduction in violent crime.

“I think it’s a partnership between the citizens, police department and overall, the department staff here in the Village. We’re creating a culture here where citizens come to the police. They’re being proactive, they see things, they’re letting us know about things ahead of time,” he said. “And, I think that’s the approach we’ve been taking and then more visibility with the police, building a relationship with some of the good people and some of the bad people.”

Tyrone Ward is the mayor of Robbins. He agreed that a partnership between himself and Chief Wells also contributed to the reduction.

“We had to change the narrative of the community, we had to change the culture. So, we worked together in making sure we do things that will involve the community and will eventually impact the community in a variety of different ways, “ he said. “We’re more community oriented now, community involved and in essence, those things we do have, helped us gain the trust of the citizens now.”

Ward said five and a half years ago, the reputation of the Village of Robbins was not good, it was a negative situation.

“Things were out of control. People and some of the so-called bad guys, were doing pretty much what they wanted to do, five or six years ago,” he said. “The chief went in and cleaned it from the inside out. We started doing just a whole gamut of things to help, we started cleaning out and demolishing homes, blighted areas. People couldn’t hide in and go in houses and do certain things.”

Wells agreed that crime was, as he put it, “going north and south,” but the village put some strategies into place and got officers on board. Some of the officers were, “just collecting a check,” Wells said, but didn’t have, “a heart for the job.”

Some of those strategies include a program called Citizen First, where from June to September, there are meetings in neighborhoods throughout the Village of Robbins, where resources are brought to the residents.

Sheila Ward and Juanita Williams are residents of the Village of Robbins. Ward has been there for 45 years and Williams has been there for 55 years.

“I feel more comfortable, I feel safer now because all the things that were happening and going on in the Village, have now ceased even down to the loud music that’s going through the Village,” Williams said. “The crime and everything have gone down. I do feel more comfortable being here and I appreciate the chief of police we have because under his guidance, this has all happened.”

Mayor Ward said Ward and Williams are actively engaged in the community.

“They engage us, they make sure we stay on our toes and that we do what we’re supposed to do. They’re active, they’re at the Board meetings, they help us with all the events that’s going on,” he said.

Ward and Williams are part of Seniors in Charge, a group created by Chief Wells. Wells said each year, the group is expanding.

“That makes me feel good, that makes me want to come to work every day. I want to serve the seniors, as well as the other citizens here,” he said.

There is another collaboration Wells is proud to talk about and that’s a collaboration with the Cook County Sheriff’s Office and the Illinois State Police. At one time, Wells said there were some, “bumpy roads with both of those agencies coming to Robbins to do work.” But over time he added, relationships have improved, “and now we’re working with them, they’re working with us and we’ve built better relations,” he said.

With the decrease in crime and cleaning up of the Village, it has led to prospective businesses coming into the town.

“Because we’ve been knocking down houses and pushing back trees and weeds, people are interested in some of these parcels now to potentially build businesses and or housing stock. Those calls have increased, so it’s a good thing,” Ward said.

Wells said when he first got to Robbins in 2014, there were seven homicides. In 2019, there was one.

“I don’t know where that comes from, but it makes me feel good as a chief, and the citizens feel good because people are not doing those horrendous crimes here back in this village. Every year, crime is going down,” he said.

Ward is the president of the South Suburban Mayors and Managers Associations, which represents more than 40 communities and 700,000 residents. Wells is the secretary of the South Suburban Association Chiefs of Police and is set to become president in two years. Something they acknowledge might not have happened a few years ago.

“We’re becoming a focal point, we’re becoming a lead,” said Ward. “We’re floating up to the top based upon our actions. Because this town is so active now, people realize it and they recognize it.”

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