Jerome Department of Public Safety
Jerome Police Department
Jerome Neighborhood Watch Association
The Department of Public Safety in the Village consists primarily of the Jerome Police Department. The Police Department has seven full-time officers, one part-time officer and a public safety trustee, including Chief Rich Gerlach, Sergeant Dan Skaggs, Officers Mark Estill, Rodney Schroeder, Glenn Tuxhorn, Craig Kennedy, Brian Brewer, Steve Stirmell and Public Safety Trustee Harry Stirmell.
The Police Department provides twenty-four (24) hour police coverage for the Village. The Police Department is accessible through the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Radio Communications Center for emergency calls and non-emergency calls.
To reach the Jerome Police Department and its officers a resident should call: 911 for all EMERGENCIES - for all other calls and non-emergencies call the radio communications center at 753-6666. To leave a recorded message that does not require a police officer to respond to assist you call 546-5954.
In addition to twenty-four hour police coverage, the department provides home checks and extra patrols when residents are out of town. If a resident will be gone for a day or more, the resident can fill out a request form at the village office to register their home on the house checklist. Several times a day, the Police Officers will check the resident’s home to make sure it is safe and secure. The Village of Jerome was the first municipality in Sangamon County to organize a Neighborhood Watch Program.
Why does Jerome have a Neighborhood Watch Program?
Crime and fear of crime threaten the well being of a community. People become afraid to use streets and parks, suspicion erupts between young and old, and businesses gradually leave. Crime, in turn, feeds on the social isolation it creates. Modern life styles, with the increasing number of families with working parents and greater job mobility, contribute to this isolation and lack of community ties. You and your neighbors can prevent or break this vicious cycle and in the process, build your community into a safe, friendly, caring place. Neighborhood Watch is a crime prevention program that enlists the active participation of citizens in cooperation with law enforcement to reduce crime in their communities.
If you would like to sign up for crime alerts and periodic information from the village and the police department via e-mail, you may sign up by contacting the village office at 217-546-2203. The Neighborhood Watch meetings are the first Wednesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. at the Village Civic Center. Every other month, we have guest speakers who talk on various topics. The other months are set aside to address concerns, sign up new block captains, and generally discuss what is taking place in our neighborhoods. All residents are welcome and encouraged to attend. The Jerome Police Department works hard to provide service to the community through a plan of community policing. The Jerome Police Department and Public Safety Department are here to serve you.
If you have any questions please feel free to contact Public Safety Trustee Harry Stirmell
at 546-2203.
