Coffee with the Chief, July 6th 2026

Community policing, staffing and transparency headline ‘Coffee with the Chief’ discussion

STREATOR — Community engagement, officer staffing, traffic safety and transparency were among the topics discussed Monday morning as Interim Police Chief Robert E. Wood hosted a public “Coffee with the Chief” meeting at The Silver Fox inside the Streator Masonic Lodge.

The meeting, held July 6 at 10 a.m., lasted approximately 90 minutes and drew about eight community members, who gathered over coffee, water and pastries for an informal conversation with the city’s interim police chief.

A Streator native serving as interim chief for the second time, Wood said he intends to become the city’s permanent police chief and expressed a desire to continue seeing local residents fill leadership positions within the department.
Reflecting on the department’s recent history, Wood credited former Chief Franklin with modernizing the department, describing him as a “breath of fresh air” and a “change agent” who introduced new policies and procedures. Wood characterized the department as having been “stagnant” for decades prior to Franklin’s tenure.

Throughout the morning, Wood repeatedly emphasized that communication between residents and law enforcement is one of the most important tools available to improve public safety.
Referencing a community town hall held last year that he stated “went off the rails,” Wood explained many of the same concerns raised then continue to shape the department’s priorities today. His central message to residents remained consistent throughout the meeting:

“Communication” and “See something, say something.”

Wood encouraged residents to report suspicious activity, traffic concerns and neighborhood problems, stressing that police rely on cooperation from the public to investigate crimes successfully.

Using recent homicide investigations as an example, Wood said witnesses coming forward had been instrumental in helping solve those cases. He added that investigators sometimes have a strong idea of who committed a crime but cannot move forward until sufficient evidence or witness testimony becomes available. Wood also stated the Streator Police Department maintains a “very good relationship” with the State’s Attorney’s Office, which he said helps facilitate successful prosecutions. Much of the discussion focused on the realities of policing in a small community. While Streator differs significantly in size from Chicago, Wood said officers encounter many of the same types of criminal activity, though on a smaller scale.

Looking ahead, Wood said expanded officer training would be one of his priorities once he officially assumes the role of police chief. He also acknowledged the department’s recruitment challenges, noting that Streator’s limited economic growth and salary opportunities make it difficult to attract experienced officers from outside communities. Rather than relying on outside hiring, he stated the department expects to continue emphasizing professional development and promotions from within.

Wood described law enforcement as a largely thankless profession and said officers are expected to enforce the law fairly regardless of personal relationships. He explained the department does not give preferential treatment to people officers know personally, adding that maintaining those professional boundaries can be challenging for some younger officers working in a close-knit community.

Traffic safety generated significant discussion throughout the meeting.

Residents raised concerns about speeding along South Ottercreek, Main Street and other nearby roadways. Wood acknowledged those locations have “always” been problem areas, noting that the installation of a new stop sign was one recent improvement. He promised increased patrols in those areas while encouraging residents to continue reporting speeding concerns so officers can better identify enforcement priorities.

Wood explained that installing additional stop signs involves traffic studies and coordination with the city engineer and the Illinois Department of Transportation. He said the city is currently working with IDOT on a grant related to traffic improvements, although specific details of the grant were not discussed during the meeting.

Electronic speed display signs, he added, serve primarily as deterrents rather than enforcement tools.

Wood also discussed speeding citations, noting that Illinois traffic tickets currently carry fines of approximately $160, with additional court costs if a citation is contested before a judge. He explained tickets are intended to change behavior, stating, “Tickets are for people that need impact.”

According to Wood, Streator has recorded traffic accident totals in the 700s during the past three years, which is described as above average.

Questions also focused on the operation of all-terrain vehicles and four-wheelers on city streets.

Wood said officers are often unable to identify ATV operators unless residents provide information. He encouraged neighbors to report illegally operated vehicles, explaining that those responsible frequently flee when officers attempt enforcement. Under the department’s pursuit policy, officers are limited in when vehicle pursuits may occur. As one possible solution, Wood said the department is exploring the future use of drone technology to assist officers in locating fleeing suspects without initiating vehicle pursuits.

Technology and transparency represented another major topic of discussion.

Wood said the city currently operates 12 Flock Safety cameras. Two currently provide live viewing capability, with a third expected to be added soon, while the remaining units function as automated license plate readers.

He said the city’s other public safety cameras are generally operational despite occasional technical issues but acknowledged that expanding the network remains expensive. As an example, he stated a recent estimate to install six additional cameras totaled approximately $50,000, while a grant secured by the department covered only about $14,000.

Addressing questions about the data retention of Flock cameras, Wood said footage collected through the Flock system is retained for approximately two weeks unless it becomes part of a criminal investigation or legal proceeding. In those cases, he explained the footage will be preserved within the department’s evidence management system.

Wood also announced plans to simplify the submission of home security camera footage. Rather than requiring residents to download video files onto flash drives and deliver them in person, the department expects to begin using secure electronic links that allow digital uploads directly to investigators.

“The more evidence the better,” Wood said.

The conversation later shifted to the Illinois SAFE-T Act.

While acknowledging both positive and negative aspects of the legislation, Wood described its intent as “the right idea” while criticizing what he characterized as its implementation as “horrible.”

Community engagement remained another recurring theme throughout the discussion.

Wood pointed out the department has increased its presence on social media, citing the recently launched “Tweet from the Beat” campaign on X (formerly Twitter) as one example of its efforts to improve communication with residents.

He explained the idea was inspired by former Boston Police Chief Edward F. “Ed” Davis III, who has spoken nationally about the importance of community policing and encouraging officers to “be approachable.” Boston Chief Davis was acting Chief during the 2013 Marathon Bombings.

That philosophy, Wood stated, has also led the department to increase its participation in neighborhood events, including lemonade stands and other community activities designed to build relationships outside of emergency situations.

Wood also shared plans for a possible trading card program featuring Streator police officers. Sample cards have already been ordered, with the goal of making officers more familiar and approachable to younger residents. No funding source has yet been identified should the program move forward.

The department plans to participate in National Night Out on Aug. 4 and will play a significant role in providing security during this year’s Streator Fest, which annually brings more than 10,000 visitors to the city. Wood said the department hopes to work alongside event organizers and private security to ensure the festival remains both enjoyable and safe.

Staffing challenges surfaced repeatedly throughout the meeting.

Wood explained the department remains short on officers despite the swearing-in of Officer Knox earlier today. Because Knox replaced a retiring officer, the department’s staffing level did not increase.
Currently, the department schedules four officers for each 12-hour patrol shift while maintaining a minimum staffing level of three officers. Wood stated officers are able to conduct proactive enforcement, including speed enforcement, when they are not already committed to emergency calls or other service requests.
He added that patrol officers typically drive at least 100 miles during a 12-hour shift while responding to calls throughout the city. For reference, Streator is 7.37 square miles in size.

Residents also expressed concerns about criminal activity occurring in and around the city park, requesting more visible patrols in the area. Wood claimed officers are expected to patrol the park and surrounding streets whenever possible but acknowledged that higher-priority calls can limit those opportunities.

As part of the department’s continued transparency efforts, Wood explained plans are underway to develop a public dashboard allowing residents to view information such as arrests, police calls and other department activity.

Mental health and substance abuse also emerged as recurring discussion topics.

Wood noted that the two issues are frequently interconnected in calls handled by officers. Discussing traffic enforcement involving suspected drug activity, he stated officers generally look for an independent traffic violation before initiating a stop.

“The war on drugs is through education and communication,” Wood exclaimed.

He praised recently appointed City Manager R. Yates McLaughlin, who assumed the position June 1.

“I’ve been very impressed,” Wood stated. “Yates is gonna be real good for this community. He has lots of energy.“

Wood contrasted McLaughlin’s leadership style with that of the city’s previous administration, saying the new city manager has demonstrated greater urgency in following through on projects and commitments, showing initiative of his own.

As the meeting concluded, attendees asked what residents could do to assist the police department moving forward.
Wood’s answer reflected a theme that had surfaced repeatedly throughout the morning: communication. Whether discussing speeding complaints, suspicious activity, neighborhood crime, surveillance footage or criminal investigations, he encouraged residents to report concerns, cooperate with investigations and come forward when they witness crimes.

For Wood, effective policing depends not only on the officers wearing the badge, but also on an engaged community willing to share information when it matters most.

-Written and attended by Willow Moss