Orland Park committee backs pilot to run steady red-and-blue 'cruise lights' on patrol cars

The Orland Park Committee of the Whole on Dec. 1 voted to recommend a pilot allowing marked police vehicles to display steady (non-flashing) red-and-blue "cruise lights" in targeted retail districts and low-traffic residential areas as a visibility and crime-deterrence measure.

Sergeant Wall of the Orland Park Police Department showed a short overview and told trustees the lights are intended to be non-emergency: "If they're not flashing, just go about your business. If they're flashing, they are signaling an emergency," he said. Staff said no additional vehicle purchases are required and that many patrol cars are already enabled for the feature.

Trustees asked how the department will measure success and raised safety concerns about motorists misinterpreting the lights. The chief and staff said the pilot will start in lower-traffic hours and locations, assign four officers initially, and solicit feedback from residents and retail districts via email. The committee requested metrics to evaluate whether the lights deter retail theft, reduce neighborhood speeding or increase calls for service.

The motion approved by the committee recommended passage of a resolution authorizing the pilot and directing police to report back with evaluation criteria and resident input. The pilot is a temporary program; staff will present findings to the board after the trial period.