Police Department History
The First Police Officer
The Village of Riverside was incorporated on July 10, 1875, and the new Village Board did not waste any time in appointing a police officer. On August 16, 1875 Charles A. Teale became the Village’s first police officer earning him a $30 monthly salary.
Some of Officer Teale’s duties included acting as Village Pound Master; this required he round up stray cattle, fowl, swine, and sheep that were running loose within the village and placing them in an old barn located where the current Township Hall stands today. Owners were then fined $1 to be able to retrieve their animals from the pound. Officer Teale held the position of police officer for 2 years.
The Department Expands
The village then went through 3 officers during the next 2 years until May 5, 1879 when they hired Oliver Kelly, who became the first officer to receive benefits with employment. Officer Kelly received a monthly salary of $50 along with living quarters that included free water. Kelly was the first to receive a uniform allowance that provided him with a free summer and winter uniform with overcoat at a cost of $69.
Kelly was given the authority to hire special police officers when warranted from time to time. One of those officers was Charles Lange who became one of the most beloved police officers in Village history.
Officer Lange
Charles Lange was hired as a police officer in 1887 during a time when the town’s population reached 900. Lange was immediately promoted to Sergeant and his duties were expanded compared to prior officers. Some of Lange’s duties included serving water shut off notices for delinquent water bills, collection of dog licenses and peddler fees, and overseeing the lighting of the street lamps.
Throughout the village, each street lamp had to be lit by hand every day at dusk and extinguished in the following morning. Officer Lange patrolled the village on his bicycle and in the winter in a horse drawn carriage. Officer Lange knew everyone’s name and everyone knew him. Officer Charles Lange proudly served Riverside for 40 years and retired as a Captain.
At the turn of the century the population had grown to 1,551 and the birth of the combustible engine was here. The village adopted the first speed limit law at a lofty 8 miles per hour and posted speed limit signs at every entrance into the village. Speeding was such a problem that Village Board members were issued special badges to identify their office when they stopped speed violators. The number of officers at the beginning of the 20th Century was now at 2 - 1 during the day and 1 at night.
By the 1920’s, with the village population at 2,532, many changes were occurring. The police department now had a Harley Davidson motorcycle to help with frequent bank robberies happening in America. The village now required all street names to have signs and all residences to have their addresses posted on their lots. The police force was now 4 officers strong with additional officers being hired so that the police department was manned 24 hours a day.
Call boxes were installed, with one at the corner of East Quincy and Riverside Road. Sergeant Lange led the Police Department until the Chief of Police position was established. William C. Lange (no relation to Sergeant Lange) was given that position. The Chief’s salary was $225 per month. Chief Lange brought additional equipment in the form of 2 squad cars, 7 additional call boxes, and a switchboard for calls for service.
The 1930’s arrived and 2 way radio communication was still not available to Riverside officers. Riverside squads relied upon WGN AM radio to alert them for calls. If there was a call to go to, the police department would call WGN and they would in turn interrupt their broadcast to tell Riverside Police department to go to a specific area or to call the station from a call box. Another method used to alert an officer on the street was to place a light on in the window of the station. When an officer would drive by and see the light, he knew that he should stop in for information.
The Great Depression arrived in the 30’s and officers were not immune to the hard times felt by all. Officers received script money in lieu of an actual salary. They could take this script money to the local grocery store and purchase groceries with it. By the late 30’s the Village passed an ordinance authorizing a pension for retired officers.
When World War II began, many officers left the police department for the military or to work in war plants. In 1942 the Riverside Auxiliary Corps was born to assist with the shortage of officers. The Auxiliary Corps still exists to this day. After WWII, two way communications came to Riverside.
In the 50’s through the 70’s, with the population growing, need for expansion and modernization was felt. The Police Department left the area (where the current Township Office is now) and moved into the newly constructed addition between the fire department and village hall. The new Police department contained a pistol range and a small office in the basement along with 2 cells and a radio room upstairs.
In the 90’s the Village hired 24 hour a day paramedics once an apartment for them was constructed next to the police station. Prior to that, an officer would drive their squad car to the fire department, grab the ambulance, and drive it to the call where Fire Department personnel would attend to a patient. Once the ambulance left the scene, the officer that drove it would have to wait for another officer to give him a ride back to the station to get his squad back.
The current 19 sworn officer police department now consists of 14 patrol officers, two detectives, a Lieutenant, Deputy Chief, and Chief of Police. Our officers have many specialized units including a bike patrol, juvenile officers, specialized DUI enforcement, gang task force, and mutual aid agreements with surrounding agencies.
1920s
By the 1920’s, with the village population at 2,532, many changes were occurring. The police department now had a Harley Davidson motorcycle to help with frequent bank robberies happening in America. The village now required all street names to have signs and all residences to have their addresses posted on their lots. The police force was now 4 officers strong with additional officers being hired so that the police department was manned 24 hours a day.
Call boxes were installed, with one at the corner of East Quincy and Riverside Road. Sergeant Lange led the Police Department until the Chief of Police position was established. William C. Lange (no relation to Sergeant Lange) was given that position. The Chief’s salary was $225 per month. Chief Lange brought additional equipment in the form of 2 squad cars, 7 additional call boxes, and a switchboard for calls for service.
1930s and 40s
The Great Depression arrived in the 30’s and officers were not immune to the hard times felt by all. Officers received script money in lieu of an actual salary. They could take this script money to the local grocery store and purchase groceries with it. By the late 30’s the Village passed an ordinance authorizing a pension for retired officers.
When World War II began, many officers left the police department for the military or to work in war plants. In 1942 the Riverside Auxiliary Corps was born to assist with the shortage of officers. The Auxiliary Corps still exists to this day. After WWII, two way communications came to Riverside.
1950s Through 70s
In the 50’s through the 70’s, with the population growing, need for expansion and modernization was felt. The Police Department left the area (where the current Township Office is now) and moved into the newly constructed addition between the fire department and village hall. The new Police department contained a pistol range and a small office in the basement along with 2 cells and a radio room upstairs.
1990s to Present
In the 90’s the Village hired 24 hour a day paramedics once an apartment for them was constructed next to the police station. Prior to that, an officer would drive their squad car to the fire department, grab the ambulance, and drive it to the call where Fire Department personnel would attend to a patient. Once the ambulance left the scene, the officer that drove it would have to wait for another officer to give him a ride back to the station to get his squad back.
The current 19 sworn officer police department now consists of 14 patrol officers, two detectives, a Lieutenant, Deputy Chief, and Chief of Police. Our officers have many specialized units including a bike patrol, juvenile officers, specialized DUI enforcement, gang task force, and mutual aid agreements with surrounding agencies.