Police History

Late 1800s

Niles' first peace officer, Fred Beisswanger, was hired.

190os

The first jail was built on Milwaukee Avenue and School Street (now Touhy Avenue).

1920s

A three-man police force was busy keeping the peace in the 1920s.

1920s - 1927

The Niles Police Department was formally established by ordinance on May 29, 1930.

A new Village Hall was built that housed both police and fire.

1950s

As the village continued to rapidly grow, the Police Department also increased in size.

1964

A new facility was built for the Police Department at the corner of Milwaukee Avenue and Touhy Avenue.

2003

The Niles Police Department added eight new police officers raising the total number of sworn to 62.

2005

A new facility was built on the previous site of the old Police Department. This new state-of-the-art facility brought the department much needed space, and made room for future growth.

April 8, 2005

Niles Police Officer Steven Zourkas was killed in the line of duty. Officer Zourkas was the only officer to ever lose his life in the line of duty in the history of the Niles Police Department.

Presently

The Niles Police Department provides 24 hour-a-day service and protection to village residents with:

• 6 Operational Service Officers
• 12 civilians
• 17 school crossing guards
• 70 community service officers
• 55 sworn officers

The Police Department is proactive in its efforts to enforce federal, state, and local laws through the utilization of numerous law enforcement strategies.