Residential Beat Officer Program Returns
Published on February 09, 2026
The Oak Park Police Department (OPPD) is excited to announce an updated residential beat officer program in the community policing division.
Three Resident/Neighborhood Beat Officers, Officers Eric Locke, Raphael Murphy and Christine Simkus, are assigned to the eight zones in the Village (click here for map). These RBOs will hold regular meetings in the neighborhoods they serve to discuss issues, crime trends and answer questions. Residents should reach out to their RBO to offer feedback or for crime prevention advice. Contact information for each RBO is available at www.oak-park.us/rbo. In addition, veteran Foot Patrol Officer Michael Kelly continues to support the Downtown Business District as a liaison to the business community.
“I’m pleased we can once again promote our excellent RBO/NRO program to the Oak Park community,” said Police Chief Shatonya Johnson. “As a former beat officer myself, I know how important communication is for both residents and the department. The RBO program is an important tool that helps us engage in the type of neighborhood outreach that helps our community thrive.”
The RBO program is the keystone of the Community Policing Division, overseen by Deputy Chief Roderick Robinson. The division also offers additional programs for residents including free security inspections, vacation watch and the emergency ID bracelet program. More information about these and other programs is available online.
The Oak Park Police Department follows a community-based policing philosophy that relies on citizen involvement, problem solving, ethical behavior, leadership and the value of employees. This philosophy and its values guide interactions both within the Police Department and the community.
For more information about the Oak Park Police Department, visit www.oak-park.us/police or email police@oak-park.us.
About Oak Park - The Village of Oak Park, located just nine miles west of downtown Chicago, offers a distinctive urban/suburban lifestyle in a thriving, multi-cultural community. Well-known for progressive values, tree-lined streets and bustling business districts, Oak Park serves as an ideal place to live, work and play. As a longstanding community of choice, the Village benefits from convenient access to local and regional transit, high-quality public schools, and arts and cultural attractions, including Frank Lloyd Wright’s home and studio and his acclaimed Unity Temple, which was recently designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
About the Oak Park Police Department - The mission of the Oak Park Police Department is to provide high-quality law enforcement services that are accessible to all members of the community. Oak Park Police officers believe in the dignity of all people and respect individual and constitutional rights. The Department follows a community-based policing philosophy that relies on citizen involvement, problem solving, ethical behavior, leadership and the value of employees. This philosophy and its values guide interactions both within the Police Department and the community. Oak Park Police Officers work to promote quality of life by maintaining and improving peace, order and safety through excellence in law enforcement and community service.