Cop calls

Police activity in the village of Coal City continues to steadily increase with the number of calls growing by 5.4% between August and September.
In the first month of the pandemic [March to April] the number of calls for service handled by Coal City Police Department officers dropped 42%. Since a low in April—281 calls—the total number of calls handled by officers has continued to increase with a five-month average of 426 calls.
According to the department’s monthly report to the Village Board, officer activity during September was 526 calls including 340 officer-initiated calls, up from 316 in August and 235 in July.
Although the department continues to see increases in calls for service, overall activity remains below officer activity in the first couple of months of the year. To date, the department has handled 4,299 calls—officer initiated and requested response—1,899 of those resulted in a formal report.
In the month of September, 282 calls resulted in a report. Officers also filed seven criminal charges, issued 15 ordinance violations and handed out 52 traffic citations based on 170 stops.
Also in September, the department welcomed new officer Brian Pustz to the force with a swearing in ceremony.
Pustz began law enforcement training at the University of Illinois on Oct. 11. He is slated to complete his training in mid-January and begin his field training shortly after.