Orland Park Police Chief Timothy McCarthy received the ISBA Law Enforcement Award on July 2 during an Orland Park Village Board of Trustees meeting. ISBA President James McCluskey and ISBA President Elect David Sosin presented the award.

The ISBA Law Enforcement Award was created to recognize sworn law enforcement officers for conduct that promotes justice and to distinguish those individuals whose service to the public brings honor and respect to the entire criminal justice system. It recognizes those who excel in law enforcement.

Chief McCarthy, who was nominated for the award by ISBA President Elect David Sosin, was acknowledged for establishing the South Suburban Major Crimes Task Force, modernizing the Orland Park Police Department, expanding the D.A.R.E. program, and creating active shooter training materials.

Chief McCarthy was instrumental in establishing the South Suburban Major Crimes Task Force, one of the first multi-jurisdictional homicide task forces in the Chicagoland area. He automated the Orland Park Police Department with laptops at a time when most other departments used mobile data terminals. Chief McCarthy also implemented several community policing initiatives, including Trailers in the Park, Walk the Talk, and Bike Patrol.

When funding for the D.A.R.E. program ended, Chief McCarthy continued the program and eventually expanded it in response to an increase in local heroin overdoses. In 2015, Chief McCarthy provided training for and equipped the department’s officers with NARCAN, an emergency treatment that blocks or reverses the effects of an opioid overdose. The department became the first in Cook County to deploy the life-saving drug. 

The Orland Park Police Department was nationally recognized in 2016 for producing an active shooter training video, “Plan. Prepare. Act.” for schools.