Forest View Police Department

09/20/2026

🚗 A reminder!!! 💙

National Child Passenger Safety Week: Sept. 20–26, 2026

As part of National Child Passenger Safety (CPS) Week, we’re inviting families from Forest View and all surrounding neighborhoods to stop by and have their car seats checked for free by Officer Guzman who is a certified technician!!!!

🏡 Safety Check 💙
We’re offering a free car seat inspection for residents of Forest View and nearby communities. Our trained Child Passenger Safety Technician will:
• Ensure your seat fits your child’s age, height, and weight.
• Verify proper installation and harness adjustment.
• Share updated safety recommendations.

Please call the Forest View Police Department at 708-788-0318, so we can schedule an appointment. We also offer forms on our Village website and at the Forest View PD. See less

09/12/2026

🚗 National Child Passenger Safety Week: Sept. 20–26, 2026

Car crashes remain one of the leading safety threats to children, with more than 127,000 children injured in 2024, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). As part of National Child Passenger Safety (CPS) Week, we’re inviting families from Forest View and all surrounding neighborhoods to stop by and have their car seats checked for free by Officer Guzman who is a certified technician!!!!

💙Why It Matters👶
Research from AAA and the National Safety Council shows that nearly three-fourths (73.7%) of car seats checked in 2025 were incorrectly installed or used. Even more concerning, only 1 in 5 parents seek expert help when installing or securing a car seat.

🔍 Common Mistakes Found Nationwide 🤐
• Loose installation: The seat isn’t secured tightly enough.
• Missing tether use: Especially for forward-facing seats.
• Loose harnesses straps: Not snug enough to protect the child.
• Premature transitions: 19.1% of children moved to booster seats too soon, and 86.5% transitioned to seat belts before it was safe.
• Compounding errors: Nearly 80% of seats with a harness mistake also had installation errors.

🏡 Safety Check 💙
We’re offering a free car seat inspection for residents of Forest View and nearby communities. Our trained Child Passenger Safety Technician will:
• Ensure your seat fits your child’s age, height, and weight.
• Verify proper installation and harness adjustment.
• Share updated safety recommendations.

Please call the Forest View Police Department at 708-788-0318, so we can schedule an appointment. We also offer forms on our Village website and at the Forest View PD.

09/11/2026

The Village of Forest View Remembers – 25 Years

Today is a day that we SHOULD NEVER FORGET in recognizing the 25th Anniversary of September 11, 2001 – a day that forever changed our nation. We must remember the nearly 3,000 lives lost in New York City, at the Pentagon, and aboard Flight 93. We especially remember the passengers and crew of Flight 93, whose courage and actions that morning remain an extraordinary example of sacrifice.

We would like to extend our thanks to Village President David Liska for coordinating the Village of Forest View’s tribute this morning in recognizing the 25th Anniversary of the tragic attacks of September 11, 2001. Fire Chief Mark Stewart provided an outstanding overview to everyone in attendance of the events that took place at 8:46am (ET) on that horrific day.

This unprecedented attack on our nation’s freedoms, so displayed the extraordinary courage and a public safety response that continues to shape our first responder profession. We must honor the law enforcement officers, firefighters, emergency medical personnel, members of our military, and all the rescue and recovery workers, volunteers, and everyday citizens who stepped forward when our country needed them most. For us in the law enforcement profession, this attack represented the largest homicide investigation that has ever taken place in our country.

So many of our first responders on that devastating day, climbed the stairs of the World Trade Center knowing they were facing a horrific and unimaginable situation never experienced before – and possibly knowing they might not be going home to their families. The courage displayed that day will be forever remembered by most of us, as they searched for survivors, helped those who were injured (many seriously), and who they did not know while placing the safety of others before their own. For us in the first responder profession this is what wearing the badge and serving our communities is about.

Unfortunately, there are many in this country who have forgotten September 11th and who are anti-American and celebrated our national tragedy – and this ladies and gentlemen is an absolute shame. This is so disgusting and disrespectful to the over 3,000 innocent victims and their families who lost their lives that included; 343 members of the New York City Fire Department, 23 New York City Police Officers, and 37 Port Authority Police Officers along with numerous other first responders and those who serve the public. There is a certain place for those who celebrated and fail to recognize this horrendous national tragedy.

To those who responded, served in the aftermath, or continue to carry the effects of that day, we are forever grateful for your service, your courage, and your sacrifices.

Please take a moment today to reflect on those we lost, to those who survived, to those who answered the call, and to the many lives forever changed by September 11, 2001.

God bless America.

Jim Ritz
Chief of Police

09/10/2026

08/27/2026

Recently we have been asked questions or responded to calls related to Illinois Service Dog Laws in our local park. Here is a brief summary of some important information regarding the legal protections afforded to individuals who use service animals as noted in Illinois Statutes and Federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements:

Illinois Service Dog Laws:

Illinois provides strong protections for service dog handlers through a combination of federal ADA coverage and robust state-specific laws. The state’s primary service animal protections are found in 720 ILCS 5/48-8 (Criminal Code), the Illinois Human Rights Act (775 ILCS 5), and the Guide Dog Access Act (740 ILCS 13). Illinois notably makes it a criminal offense to deny access to a service animal handler and extends public access rights to service dogs in training.

740 ILCS 13 — Guide Dog Access Act:

The Guide Dog Access Act specifically protects handlers of guide dogs and hearing dogs, guaranteeing their right to full and equal access to all public accommodations. While narrower in scope than § 48-8, it provides an additional layer of protection for handlers of guide and hearing dogs.

Personnel cannot:
• Ask about the nature or extent of the person’s disability
• Require or ask for documentation, certification, ID card registration, or special vests – the ADA does not require the animal to be professionally trained.

Under both the ADA and Illinois law (720 ILCS 5/48-8), service dogs are permitted in all places of public accommodation:

A service dog may only be excluded from a public place if it is out of control (and the handler doesn’t take effective action) or not housebroken.

Registration and Identification Accessories:

Registration, ID cards, vests, leashes, tags, and other identification accessories are not required or endorsed by the ADA

Denying Access (720 ILCS 5/48-8):

Knowingly denying access to a person accompanied by a service animal (or service animal in training) is a Class C misdemeanor in Illinois. Penalties include:
Up to 30 days in jail
Fine of up to $1,500

Training Requirements:

Under the federal ADA — which applies in Illinois — service dogs do not need to be trained by a professional or certified organization. Owner-training (self-training) is fully permitted.
There is no national or state registry, certification, or licensing requirement.

Please click on the following link for further information or questions regarding Illinois Service Dog Law:

Illinois Service Dog Laws: Rights, Access & Protections (2026 Guide) | USA Service Dogs https://share.google/MMQpmUPzT9VFHsMrb

Please contact the Forest View Police Department if you have any questions related to Service Dog Statutes.

Thank you,
Jim Ritz
Chief of Police

Complete guide to Illinois service dog laws including 720 ILCS 5/48-8, public access rights, SDIT protections, fraud penalties, and housing rights.

08/26/2026

📢 REMINDER: SENIOR S.A.F.E EVENT THIS THURSDAY! 💙

Join the Forest View Police Department this Thursday at 11:00 AM for our Senior S.A.F.E Event! We’d love to see you there! 👮‍♀️👮‍♂️

This event is an opportunity for seniors and community members to learn about valuable resources, safety information, and services available to them. Our goal is simply to provide information, answer questions, and help connect our community with resources that can make a difference!!

☕ FREE snacks and drinks will be provided! 🍪🥤
📅 Thursday, August 27
⏰ 11:00 AM-Approximately 3:00PM
📍7000 W 46th Street, Forest View, IL

And a reminder!!!! you do NOT have to be a Forest View resident to attend! Everyone is more than welcome to join us. Whether you live in Forest View or a neighboring community, we’d be happy to have you.

A little sidenote: While the event is scheduled to begin at 11:00 AM, we anticipate wrapping up a little before 3:00 PM. But we want to make sure everyone has plenty of time to ask questions, interact with our presenters, and speak with us one-on-one. So please feel free to stop by, stay as long as you’d like, and take advantage of the resources available!

We hope to see you there! 💙

08/20/2026

Our School Resource Officers are here to remind you: Share the moment, not all the details.

As you share those exciting first-day-of-school photos, remember that sometimes less information is safer. Details such as your child’s full name, school, grade, age, classroom, teacher, bus number, or daily schedule can provide strangers with more information than you may realize.

A simple “First Day of School!” photo can still capture the memory without giving away personal information.

Wishing all Ashland students, families, teachers, and staff a safe, happy, and successful school year!

08/20/2026

Dear Parents and Guardians,

With summer quickly coming to an end and the new school year starting up the Forest View Police Department looks forward to welcoming our students back to school. The safety and well-being of our children remain one of our department’s highest priorities as we remind everyone that school safety is a shared responsibility.

Our police department will continue working closely with school administrators, staff, students, and families to promote a safe learning environment. Our officers will be visible in and around our schools as we remain committed to building positive relationships with our students and the entire school community.

Please follow all school traffic patterns and designated drop-off and pick-up areas. Most importantly, avoid distracted driving – specifically the use of cellphones and/or any electronic devices -- and be especially cautious around school buses and children crossing roadways, as our officers will have a zero-tolerance policy for use of electronic devices in and around our school zones.

We ask parents and guardians to remind your children to use designated crosswalks, obey all traffic signs, and remain alert when walking or riding bicycles to and from school. Also, please encourage your children to be aware of their surroundings and to immediately report anything that makes them feel unsafe to a parent, teacher, school administrator, or police officer.

Parents, we want you to help us by being patient, attentive, and respectful during the busy morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up periods in and around school zones. A few extra minutes of caution can make a significant difference in keeping our children safe.

On behalf of the Forest View Police Department, we wish all students, parents, teachers, and school staff a safe, successful, and rewarding school year.

Thank you for your continued partnership and support for helping us keep our children safe.

Sincerely,

Jim Ritz
Chief of Police
Forest View Police Department

08/17/2026

The Forest View Police Department proudly recognizes and congratulates Officer Maria Guzman for earning her Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST) certification.

As a certified CPST, Ofc. Guzman brings highly specialized training to assist and educate our Forest View parents and caregivers with proper child safety seat selection, installation, and use. This excellent accomplishment provides an added and valuable resource to our department and the Forest View community.

Properly installed and correctly used child safety seats are an important part of protecting our young passengers. Even if parents have the correct car seat -- installation and proper use can be somewhat challenging. Ofc. Guzman can now assist you with checking the installation and guide you through the proper installation and use. She can also answer any questions you may have regarding age-, height-, and weight-appropriate restraints for your child passengers.

We encourage parents, grandparents, or other caregivers who transport children to take advantage of this valuable service that our department now offers.

Residents who would like to have their child’s safety seat installation checked can schedule an appointment with Ofc. Guzman through our Police Department non-emergency number at 708-788-0318.

The Forest View Police Department is proud to provide this service to our community and congratulates Ofc. Guzman on earning her Child Passenger Safety Technician certification.

Thank you,
Jim Ritz
Chief of Police

08/13/2026

NEW VILLAGE ORDINANCE