Drivers near Fernway Park School at dismissal time may think that uniformed person directing traffic looks too young to be a police officer–and they would be right.
Most likely, it is a member of the Orland Hills Police cadets, a group that has grown in the last few years both in size and reputation.
“It’s just a matter of energy,” cadet adviser Len Weber said of the revitalized program. “When young people realize you care and you’re interested, they feel the same.”
Weber, an Orland Hills police officer since 1996, has been overseeing the cadets since February 1997. The program originated in the early ’90s, he said.
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“It’s always been the philosophy of the village government” to support the youth,Weber said, although he admitted the cadet concept was languishing when he took it on. “The program was struggling. There was a lack of energy, lack of members.”
Now the Orland Hills cadets number 49, with 13 of those being females, and there is a waiting list to join.
“It’s an excellent program,” said village Police and Fire Committee Chairman Cal Million. “A lot of that comes from the leadership of Len Weber.”
Orland Hills resident Donna Kalchbrenner, a cadet adviser whose daughter recently applied to the program, said there is a certain cachet to being a cadet.
“It’s kind of a group now where everybody wants in,” she said. “They get great satisfaction from the work that they do.”
Applicants must be between 14 and 20 years old but do not have to reside in the village. The cadet uniform–navy blue pants, a light blue or white shirt, dark socks and black shoes–includes a shoulder patch.
And no, they do not carry weapons.
Cadet duties include traffic control, playing canine anti-crime mascot McGruff at festivals and fingerprinting children. They also have sponsored a toy drive for victims of the 1999 Oklahoma City tornado and collected food for the needy. In addition, they attend classes led by police officers.
Like other cadet units, this one is administered by Learning for Life, a program that introduces young people to various careers. The Orland Hills unit is the only such post in Illinois to be a formal member of an emergency services interagency agreement, and cadets often are called to help at events in other municipalities. The cadets garnered four awards at the 1999 state conference, a meeting that occurs every other year.
“I’m just blown away by them,” said Janna Odenthal, Learning for Life executive. “They’re certainly one of the best. They’re inspired, somehow.”
Weber said about half the cadets have law enforcement career aspirations, including Jeremy Potocki, 19, the cadet commander, who is responsible for helping resolve conflicts between cadets and serving as a liaison between cadets and the police.
“When I began, I had no idea what I wanted to do,” said Potocki, who is studying law enforcement at Western Illinois University in Macomb. “I had a friend in the program and I got real involved.
“It was my busiest summer so far,” he said. “You get to help people. It keeps you on your feet. It brings a different aspect toward police. They’re not against the youth. They help us a lot. I think we make their job easier–or try to.”
“I think the program promotes young people in a positive nature,” Police Chief Richard Schryver said. “I can’t believe the compliments I get when I go to the chiefs’ meetings.
“They’re always there to help,” Schryver added, noting cadets voluntarily take on tasks such as shoveling snow for elderly residents. “There’s a lot of things these kids do … and they don’t get the credit for it.”