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s <br /> Chief'Shane Brandel <br /> Decatur Police Department <br /> 707 W. South Side Drive <br /> Decatur, IL 62521 <br /> 1 217-424-2745 # <br /> Re: Downtown Parks - Overnight Checks <br /> Date: 10/31/2023 <br /> Mr. Wrighton, <br /> Per your request, I am providing a brief summary of police activity as it relates to <br /> the enforcement of the city ordinance regarding park hours, specifically the overnight <br /> closure of the downtown parks. <br /> Decatur Police Officers began enforcement of the ordinance once signs were <br /> placed at the parks indicating the hours the parks were closed. Additional time was given <br /> to allow people to become aware of the park hours. Beginning in April 2023, DPD <br /> officers began checking the parks overnight during various times that the park was <br /> closed. Our goal was to educate and ensure compliance with the city ordinance. Our <br /> approach was to inform any violators of the ordinance, offer resources to them if <br /> appropriate, and make sure they safely vacated the park. <br /> From April through October, DPD officers conducted 134 checks of the <br /> downtown parks during hours the parks were closed. Of the checks conducted, officers <br /> encountered subjects in violation of the ordinance 21 separate times. DPD officers were <br /> able to gain compliance each time and relocated the subject without writing any citations <br /> for the ordinance violation. Only one subject encountered was arrested, and that person <br /> had a warrant for their arrest. It should also be noted that the highest number of <br /> encounters occurred at the beginning of the enforcement period, and the lowest number <br /> of encounters occurred in October, with only I encounter. <br /> Respectfully submitted, <br /> Shane Brandel <br />