Visitors to forest preserves in Cook County soon will see a slight change to the landscape -- volunteers with vests and T-shirts that identify them as part of the county's new Trail Watch program.
The Cook County Forest Preserve Police Department is recruiting volunteers to keep an eye on secluded trails. The idea is to improve the perception of the trails' safety, as well as aid police, Forest Preserve Police Chief Richard Waszak said. Crime isn't high in forest preserves, but people are sometimes uncomfortable because they are isolated, he said.
"We have 68,000 acres of trails in remote areas," he said. "But when people are alone by themselves, the perception could be a problem. ... We can't be everywhere all the time, but people using the forest preserves are our best asset. If a tree falls down across a trail and makes it difficult for a horse rider or jogger or bike to go across, we need to know."
People make about 50 million visits to preserves each year, Waszak said, and that's a conservative estimate with the boom in health and fitness.
"We wanted (the program) to be done so people would understand it's safe, and we want people to use the forest preserves," he said. "We want more visitors."
Thefts, not violent crime, are usually more of a concern, Waszak said, and the Trail Watch program and other measures should help prevent problems.
"Thefts can be prevented if people don't leave things in the open and car doors open," he said. "When you are using trails, bring a friend, a buddy. ... It affords safety to anybody."
The forest preserve police already have surveillance cameras and emergency call boxes, as well as 112 sworn personnel, Waszak said.
Trail Watch volunteers must undergo background checks, and the department plans to have classes on trail uses, ordinances and first aid, Waszak said.
"Trail watchers are just that -- trail watchers, eyes and ears," he said. "We don't want them confronting people. They are not vigilantes."
The safety of visitors is a "paramount concern," Cook County Board President Todd Stroger said in a statement.
"Our new Trail Watch program is designed to help keep our patrons safe and our lands in better condition, allowing Trail Watchers to not only report suspicious individuals, but debris, hazardous conditions and illegal activity on our lands," Stroger said.
There are two ways to participate. Some Trail Watchers are encouraged to use forest preserve lands as they normally do but will wear distinctive vests and T-shirts identifying them as participants and can contact district police when they come across problems.
People who prefer a set schedule and commit a minimum of two hours per week will also be given phones with limited direct-connect capabilities to alert district police.
Interested people may download an application at www.fpdcc.com and fax it to Waszak at (708) 771-1005 or can e-mail a PDF version to rwaszak@cookcountygov.com.
