Chief of Police
1990 – Chief Bohnsack started at the JoDaviess County Sheriff’s Office as a part-time dispatcher and correctional officer. 1992 – was hired full-time as a Deputy by the JoDaviess County Sheriff’s Office. While at the Sheriff’s Office, Chief Bohnsack was assigned to General Patrol, the Blackhawk Area Task Force, and served as a Detective. While at the Sheriff’s Office, Chief Bohnsack was awarded the General Commendation Award by the American Police Hall of Fame for a life saving effort. Chief Bohnsack served there until being appointed Warren’s Chief of Police in July 2000.
Secretary/Receptionist
Donna joined the Department as a part-time Secretary/Receptionist and
Village Treasurer in May 1998. Donna
was then hired full-time in January 2002 when the Police Department moved to
its present location on Anson Street.
In addition to Donna’s Police Secretary and Village Treasurer jobs Donna
has taken on the updating of the Village Website.
Sergeant
Sgt. Wuebben joined the Department as a part-time officer in March 1997. In October 2005 Wuebben was hired as a Full-time Officer then promoted to Sargeant. Prior to that Sgt. Wuebben was a member of the Stephenson County Sheriff’s Office. Sgt. Wuebben was also enlisted in the United States Marine Corps.
Patrolman
Officer Smith joined the Warren Police Department February 14, 2010. Prior to that he was a member of the Stephenson County Sheriff’s Office as a Corrections Officer.
Warren Police Department
Part-time Officers: the following Officers help keep the Department running by covering
weekends, Holidays, vacations, and sick days.
Lucas Barker Don Barklow
Mike Plavchak Tom
Madigan
Hillary Imel Keith Eikstadt
Lucas Bourquin Keith
Brandel
Brad Curtis
Overview:
Warren was incorporated in 1857 and today is a town of 1496 citizens. Warren is located in JoDaviess County on Scenic Stagecoach Trail and State Highway 78. Warren is approximately 1 mile from the Wisconsin border. The County Seat of JoDaviess County is Galena.
The Warren Police Department is committed to protecting and serving our community. The officer’s work hard using pro-active measures to ensure that Warren is a safe community to live in.
The Department is comprised of 3
Full-time officers, 11 Part-time officers and 1 civilian.
Following are a few of the people
who have served in the capacity of Chief of Police:
Bryan
A. Bohnsack July 10, 2000 – Present
LeRoy
C. Behrens, Jr. May 23, 1994 – April 30, 2000
Ronald
Gaulke October
1, 1981 – May 1, 1994
Arthur
Walker October 23, 1978 – April 30, 1981
Greg
Wallis April 24, 1978 – November 8, 1978
Kenneth
Oefelein February 9, 1976 -
George
McRae May
1, 1967 – November 24, 1975
Leslie
Schwitz May 7,
1965 – 1967
Some of the building used as a
Police Department are: The basement of the Community Building back in the 1800’s,
the building beside the Warren Library on Burnett Street which now houses the
Historical Society, the Village Hall on Cole Street and our new location on
Anson Street.
Job Opportunities:
The Warren Police Department is
always updating their hiring lists. If
you are interested in knowing more about possible openings or general
information on hiring requirements, call or E-mail the Warren Police
Department.
Links To:
MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving)
IL
Department of Transportation
IL
State Police
State
of Illinois
Officer.com
Phone Numbers:
815-745-2418
rings
to the Police Department (Non-Emergency)
815-745-2218
24-hour
Non-Emergency
9-1-1
For
all EMERGENCIES
Office Hours:
Monday-Friday 8am-5pm
E-Mail Address:
Chief Bryan Bohnsack
chiefbohnsack@aeroinc.net
WPD Services:
Crime Stoppers: For JoDaviess County and Dubuque, IA call 1-800-747-0117. This is a 24-hour Police Assistance program
which pays rewards of up to $1,000 for information leading to the arrest of a
suspect in a crime. The callers will
remain anonymous while helping the Police.
Operation P.R.I.S.M.: A Partnership to Reduce Impaired Student Motorists. This program is put on by the Illinois State
Police District 16’s Sgt. Dave Youngblut.
The Warren Police Department along with Sgt. Dave Youngblut have been
putting on this program for Warren High School students since October
2000. The program uses Fatal Vision
goggles, a modern golf cart (equipped like a motor vehicle) and a driving
course delineated with traffic cones, signs, and a stoplight. Student drivers attempt to negotiate the
street-like driving course, while wearing the Fatal Vision goggles which
impairs the students vision and balance.
Students also have the opportunity to experience the effects of impairment
while wearing the goggles and doing field sobriety tests. The program has been very well received by
the students, school and community. The
community has donated over $600 to the P.R.I.S.M. program which is completely
funded by donations. If you would like
more information on this program, please contact us or the Illinois State
Police District 16 at Pecatonica, IL.
House Watch: If you plan to be away from
your residence for an extended period of time and wish the Police Department to
check your residence, contact the Police Department. The Police Dept. will have you fill out a residence check sheet
that will provide the Officers with the following information: Dates gone,
phone number to reach you at, persons to contact in case of emergency, names of
person(s) who may have keys, and any lights left on. This service is provided for free.
9-1-1 Information:
When
should you use 9-1-1?
9-1-1 should be used when you need immediate
response from POLICE, FIRE or AMBULANCE.
Examples
when to call:
Any crime in progress
Structure fire
Possibility of physical harm or
property damage occurring
Need law enforcement right away
Shortness of breath, breathing has stopped,
seizures, bleeding, vomiting blood,
drowning, electrocution, poisoning, burns
Helpful
hints to remember when you call 9-1-1!
Teach your children how to use 911
and when to use 911.
Make sure you give the dispatcher as
much detail about the type of call.
Remain calm, and stay on the phone
until help arrives.
Make sure your address is on your
house and is clearly visible from the street.
News Releases:
How can I lower my risk of accidents yet still use my cellular phone while driving?
1)
Get
to know your phone and its features such as speed dial and redial. Carefully read your instruction manual to
learn all of your phone features. Also
try to memorize the phones keypad so you can use the speed dial function
without taking your attention off the road.
2)
When
available, use a hands free device. A
number of hands free wireless phone accessories are available today.
3)
Position
your phone within easy reach. Make sure
you place your wireless phone within each reach and where you can grab the
phone without removing your eyes from the road. If you receive a phone call at an inconvenient time, let your
voice mail answer it for you.
4)
Let
the person you are speaking to know you are driving and if necessary, tell them
you may have to hang up due to heavy traffic, or hazardous weather conditions.
Rain, sleet, snow and ice are conditions when your full attention should be on
driving safely. Remember your first
responsibility is to pay attention to the road.
5)
Give
your full attention to the road, don’t take notes or look up phone numbers
while you are driving.
6)
Do
not engage in stressful or emotional conversations that may be distracting.
Remember
it is always best to pull over in a safe location and then use your cellular
phone.
REMEMBER:
The Ten Commandments of Cellular Safety!
1) Use
hands free devices
2) Know how your phone works
3) Avoid extra distractions, such as
taking notes
4) Practice using your phone and
functions
5) Program frequently called numbers
6) Keep an eye on road conditions, ie:
snow, rain, ice
7) Avoid stressful conversations
8) Make sure 911 is programmed in your
phone
9) Short but sweet conversations
10) If possible, pull over to the side of the road to use your phone
With Spring finally here and summer quickly approaching it’s time to be on the look out for road construction and slow moving vehicles, such as farm machinery.
To ensure that workers are safe
while working in and around construction zones, drivers are asked to obey the
following tips:
Slow
down and obey the posted speed limits.
These speed limits are the law, they are in place to keep the workers
and you safe.
Increase your following distance of
the vehicle ahead of you. This is
extremely important as you may have to stop suddenly.
Be watchful of the movement of
workers and equipment, but also of what you are doing.
Merge early if you see that a lane
of traffic is closed ahead. Make sure
you signal your change.
Do not talk on a cellular phone when
in a construction zone, keep your full attention to what is going on around
you.
When following trucks and
construction equipment into or through a construction zone, slow down and give
them plenty of room. The vehicles may
be delivering supplies and may stop suddenly.
Motorists should also turn on their
headlamps and possibly their flashers so they can be seen.
Remember if you are issued a
citation in a work zone, fine is double and you will be mandated to appear in
court with no possibility of court supervision. Last year the Illinois State Police alone issued 10,052 speeding
citations in construction zone.
As for the spring farm work being done by the area farmers, we need to watch out for them also. Most farm equipment travels at 25mph or less.
Motorists are reminded to obey the
following tips:
When following farm equipment, do
not assume the operator knows you are behind him. Stay back a safe distance as they may be making sudden stops or
turns.
Follow the farm equipment until you
can find a safe and legal place to pass them.
Be cautious when approaching blind
intersections, hill crests, and hidden driveways. You never know what might be coming at you or pulling out.
Remember to always wear your seat
belt and make sure your passengers are buckled up.
According to the IL Dept. of
Transportation Statistics for 1996-2000 there were 1,357 accidents with farm
equipment. Of those accidents 426
people were injured and 21were killed.
Dare: