Orland Park police have shifted most patrol officers to 12-hour shifts, and the early numbers show a big jolt in traffic enforcement across the village. In the first month under the new schedule, from Feb. 1 through Feb. 28, the department reports that traffic stops jumped 154%, with officers making 28 aggravated-speeding arrests in that span. Village officials say the move is meant to put more officers on the street, trim overtime, and beef up visible patrols on major roads and around business corridors.
According to FOX 32 Chicago, the new setup averages about 15 patrol officers and supervisors on each 12-hour shift, not including the dedicated Traffic Unit or part-time coverage. The station reports that, in a press release, the department described itself as “committed to proactive policing, officer wellness, and ensuring a safe environment” for residents and visitors. Officials also told reporters that overlapping shifts let supervisors send officers to the hottest spots for calls and traffic, while giving patrol staff more consecutive days off between stretches on duty.
How the board approved the trial
The schedule change stems from an October Village Board vote that approved three memoranda of agreement with police bargaining units to authorize a one-year trial run. The official legislation posted on Village of Orland Park Legistar sets the trial period from Feb. 1, 2026, through Jan. 31, 2027, and spells out that patrol officers working 12-hour shifts must “average two traffic stops per 12-hour shift worked” unless they are tied up with other duties. Local reporting on the meeting notes that trustees pitched the plan as a way to improve recruitment and retention while saving on overtime.
Village of Orland Park Legistar and other local coverage show the motion passed in October and that officials linked ongoing hiring efforts and new vehicle purchases to this expanded patrol model. In other words, the longer shifts are part of a broader strategy that includes putting more squad cars and more officers on the road.
Quota law and why ‘stops’ matter
Illinois law bars classic ticket quotas. Under 65 ILCS 5/11-1-12, a municipality cannot require an officer to issue a set number of citations in a given time period, although the statute does allow agencies to track “points of contact” such as stops, arrests, and written or verbal warnings for evaluation purposes. The provision in 65 ILCS 5/11-1-12 is the legal tool lawmakers and courts have used to rein in formal quota systems…