Mundelein police to host forum to improve community ties

After high-profile police conflicts sparked protests throughout the U.S., one suburban police chief wants to bring his community together to improve relationships and open lines of communication.

Mundelein Police Chief Eric Guenther said "people are on edge," and it should be recognized and addressed.

To start to do that, his department and the village human relations commission will host a public forum at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 20, at the Regent Center, 1200 Regent Drive in Mundelein. It will be in English and Spanish, and community input is encouraged.

"We decided it was best to address the 800-pound elephant in the room and translate those issues to small-town Mundelein," Guenther said Tuesday.

The goal will be to help people better understand the role of the police and what residents can expect when an officer stops someone on foot or in their car or arrives at their home, he said.

"Good communication and mutual understanding are two of the best ways to promote positive relations between law enforcement and the community," he said. "Given the recent level of discord and conflict between police and the communities across the country, we wanted to take a proactive approach on this issue in Mundelein and open the lines of communication."

Guenther said the idea for the discussion came after civil protests in Ferguson, Missouri, raged over the fatal police shooting of Michael Brown last August. Similar protests took place in New York, Chicago and elsewhere, and raised questions about the way police departments operate.

The forum discussion will focus on the police philosophy in Mundelein but will also involve the issues in Ferguson, he said.

"We want to let people know what they can and should expect while interacting with the police in various situations," he said. "We want to show people who we are, be transparent and tell people this is how we do things. Our goal is to work together with the people who live here, and our mission is to serve everyone equally."

Ed Wojcicki, executive director of the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police, said the community forum was "a great idea" because one of the lessons reinforced by the protests in Ferguson is communication is the key between citizens and police departments.

"One of the lessons learned over the past few months is the police are being told they are not accessible to the community enough," Wojcicki said. "Now, we can argue all day whether that's true or not, but that's the argument. So, anything that can be done to make the police more accessible to residents is a great idea."

Similar programs are being held throughout the state, and more are expected in the future, he said.

"Everyone I've spoken with on both ends who have attended these meetings have said these sessions are beneficial," Wojcicki said.