Braidwood Police Department

District 255-U, city agree to keep officer in the schools

Published by admin on Tue, 10/29/2024 - 5:15pm

At the Oct. 22 City Council meeting, Mayor Karen Hart re-appointed George Kocek and Raymond Doogan as members of the Plan Commission board.
Though Doogan was not present, Bryan Wellner, the attorney representing the city of Braidwood, advised that his appointment could be approved.
“If you want to do appointment tonight, you could and then just swear him in at a future meeting,” Wellner said.
The council approved both re-appointments, and Kocek was sworn in.
School resource officer

BPD secures new weapons for officers

Published by admin on Tue, 12/19/2023 - 4:14pm

Out with the old, in with the new.

The members of the Braidwood Police Department will be outfitted with some new gear, following the approval of a purchase of weapons, holsters, and related equipment by the Braidwood City Council.

The mayor and commissioners gave the green light to that purchase during the council’s regular meeting on Dec. 12, two weeks after declaring some of the departments outdated weaponry as surplus.

Goodwin to Braidwood: The citizens are our customers

Published by admin on Tue, 11/28/2023 - 3:49pm

Braidwood’s new chief of police has a plan when it comes to setting the agenda for the department.

And that plan starts with community.

Bret Goodwin was officially sworn in as the chief last month, following the departure of Chief Todd Lyons. Goodwin is just shy of 23-years with the Braidwood Police Department, serving most recently as sergeant.

He said it’s his promotion from within that has given the department a unique opportunity for growth.

Local law enforcement hang around Dunkin, for a cause

Published by admin on Tue, 05/23/2023 - 5:16pm

Everyone knows the old stereotype of how much cops love their donuts.

This past week, law enforcement officers with Wilmington and Braidwood decided to embrace the cliché and hang around the Dunkin’ Donuts in Diamond, and all for a good cause.

On May 19, the Wilmington Police Department and the Braidwood Police Department partnered up for the 2023 Dunkin’ Cop on a Rooftop event, an annual event that raises funds to benefit the athletes of Special Olympics Illinois.

Braidwood PD swears in newest officer

Published by admin on Tue, 04/18/2023 - 4:39pm

The city of Braidwood has a new police officer.

Last week, Officer Victor Gastelum was sworn in as the city’s newest hire, after approval by the police and fire board.

Public Health and Safety Commissioner James Mikel updated members of the City Council on the new hire during the April 11 regular meeting of the mayor and commissioners.

Mikel said Gastelum will replace a retiring full-time officer.

Gastelum will begin a 16-week training course with the Suburban Law Enforcement Academy on May 1.

Braidwood PD, citizens get to know each other

Published by admin on Tue, 02/14/2023 - 4:50pm

The Braidwood Police Department’s Citizen Police Academy is only a few weeks in.

But it’s already helped the department educate members of the public on what they didn’t know that they didn’t know about the police, all while having a little bit of fun on top of it.

The class is a head-to-toe look at the police department, what officers do from the start of a shift through the end, and not just traffic stops and arrests.

Flock cameras help Braidwood PD nab car thief suspect from Minnesota

Published by admin on Tue, 02/14/2023 - 4:48pm

The increase in Flock Safety cameras as a tool for local law enforcement has helped the Braidwood Police Department nab an alleged car thief from Minnesota.

On Feb. 7, around 11:30 a.m., the Braidwood Police Department received an alert from one of the city’s our Flock cameras that a stolen vehicle was in the area of Kennedy Road and Hickory Street.

According to the police report, the vehicle was a 2008 Black Cadillac Escalade, with a Minnesota registration plate.

Braidwood to install license plate readers near schools

Published by admin on Tue, 01/24/2023 - 4:55pm

The Braidwood Police Department is getting another tool for law enforcement investigations, this time with an emphasis on keeping the area safe where school is in session.

On Jan. 18, Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow presented the Braidwood Police Department with a check for $5,000 to install a Flock Safety camera, which is expected to be placed near the high school and middle school campus.

The presentation was made during the regular monthly meeting of the Reed-Custer Board of Education, since the camera will be located near the school district grounds.

Braidwood PD has a successful year in 2022

Published by admin on Tue, 01/03/2023 - 4:37pm

The Braidwood Police Department was busy in 2022, clearing cases throughout the year that spanned gamut from sex crimes to burglary.

Braidwood Police Chief Todd Lyons said a number of higher profile cases came across the desks of detectives and officers in 2022. Cases included a month long vehicle burglary investigation that took place over the summer, an arrest for grooming, various drug arrests, alleged money laundering by a local contractor, and the case of a missing man whose body was discovered in rural Kankakee County. All cases were closed during the year.

Shop with a Cop, Blue Santa return to Braidwood

Published by admin on Tue, 12/20/2022 - 5:26pm

For some people, interacting with law enforcement might seem like something to avoid.

But, for the members of the Braidwood Police Department, getting to know the community is just part of the job description. And, what better way to get to know your neighbors than lending a helping hand.

On Dec. 9, 18 children from the community took a shopping trip to Walmart in Morris with Braidwood Police Chief Todd Lyons, a dozen officers, their spouses, volunteers from ESDA, and members of the administration for the 4th Annual Shop with a Cop event.