The village gets accused of racial profiling and the Mayor has made no statement? You would think he would want to defend the village against such accusations. He is in charge isn't he?

Maybe if people drove the speed limit there would be no need to pull them over, and is it also Evergreen Park's fault that the people who are pulled over have a suspended license, guns, and drugs in their car? If you do not like the speed limit in Evergreen Park drive through another suburb! Should the Evergreen Park Police Department just give a free pass to the offenders because they are a minority?

Ditto to both previous comments !!! Radar is unbiased!!!

Every south sider knows that DWB is real in the SW suburbs and always has been. I thought maybe it had got better these days with more people of color living in the village, but these statistics show that not much has changed. The comment above that if they don't like it, they should drive through another suburb is priceless classic south side attitude. I understand the dilemma that law enforcement faces. After reading the police blotters for a while, a lot of the crime in the village seems to come from outsiders coming in from Chicago. How do you investigate suspicious activity without profiling when the person is of color? That seems like an impossible task, much like airports face with trying to prevent terrorism. Most citizens of Islamic faith are honest good people, but at the same time, most terrorists have been of Islamic faith. There may be no way that the authorities can effectively do their job without some profiling.

I'd be interested to see a breakdown of the reasons they were pulled over. For instance, what percentage are pulled over for speeding or some other moving violation vs. the percentage pulled over for other reason? If the EP police are stopping 'drivers of color' (for lack of a better term) on the basis of their race alone (recognizing that the police will always cite some plausible reason for pulling someone over), that's a problem. However, if drivers of color are violating laws, that's another story altogether.

If 63.9 percent of traffic flow is minority, how is it that just over 70% of violations being minorities is considered extreme racial profiling? 36% is white traffic flow, and whites make up about just under 30% of the violations. People who live in EP know the cops are always there so we are used to driving within limits. That probably contributes to it as well. And yes, EP is aggressive when pulling people over. With such a police presence in EP, our violent crimes are not high and I feel safe living here. I believe we need more stats such as what the reason is for being pulled over as well. And if people don't have insurance, or are driving on a suspended license, or have illegals drugs or weapons, I say you need to stop doing illegal things. Then you can complain about racial profiling. I am not saying there isn't profiling going on. I'm saying that there are a LOT of violations going on that may or may not start as speeding but end up being a lot more which is due to the driver's indiscretions.

Why is race alays an issue. I would love to pull the race card once in a while. If you broke the law you broke the law therefore you should be punished for it. This is so stupid. Police doing their job go figure.

The Mayor only made a statement after he had time for someone to write it. He was asked before and declined comment. Sad but true isn't that what Reagan did?

One thing the stats don't show---and which FOX32 willfully ignored---is that white drivers in EP are on average considerably older than non-white drivers. Here's what that means: older drivers generally obey speed limits/stoplights/stop signs far more than younger drivers; and older drivers tend to drive cars that are better maintained than vehicles driven by younger drivers (fewer expired license plates, fewer busted tail lights, etc.). So there's less reason for police to pull them over---which to me explains the disparity.

EP Concerned you are really starting to bug me. Get off the Mayor Sexton hating train. You obviously weren't at the board meeting last night, surprise surprise, you again have an opinion on something you know nothing about. Mayor Sexton has dedicated 35 years of his life to this village. I am personally sick of people who do nothing to be involved in our community and have the nerve to make such hateful comments. Do you know for a fact that he has a speech writer or just your spiteful thoughts. Would you like the police to allow violators to just come into our community and not follow the laws. That's a great idea. Maybe you should run for Mayor. You would run EP into the ground in a matter of months.

Then why didn't he say that in the first place? To defer comment until he can get his act together? He has done some great things for the village. But this is a new age where good ole boy politics really don't fit anymore. People demand transparency in government. I see this administration as not much more than a bully act who's time is up. I wouldn't want the headache of being Mayor here beides that I have a job. A job that requires me to be there when I am supposed to be. Not just making casual appearances at board meetings. Kay, look around you. There are some upset people here. I sure hope someone else runs. Has anyone heard anything about a contender? I sure haven't but then again I've been working a lot lately to pay these high taxes.......ugh!

Mike you are a small mind and obviously blinded. Take off the racial sunglasses my friend and look around you. I will consider the source when you speak!

Consider what source? I've never seen a village have so many activities for their residents. And have never seen a village plow the snow as fast, or trim the trees, maintain the streets, etc. Who do you think does all that? Santa.. The Mayor is doing a damn fine job.. Bottom line. And as for the police, look at the stats. Evergreen has more tickets issued than any of the surrounding areas. Look at the percentages. Look at the crimes that are happening around the borders of Evergreen. And look how many are happening in Evergreen. Bottom line is that their aggressive stance on "the law" is working. Lets not forget that no matter what race you are, if you break the law, you must be held accountable. But I guess that is just me wearing my "racial sunglasses.."

I am a resident of EP now for the past 27 years an I am white. Yes EP police do pull over a lot of cars. In a vast majority of the time they are correct in doing this. I have been pulled over my self on a couple occasion, an yes I was in the wrong. To be honest I am surprised they do not pull over more. We have a large group of idiot drivers that need to ticketed; no matter what the color. If anything I wish the village would do something about the kids and adults that are walking in street and blocking the cars trying to pass. If we hit them, we get ticketed and sued. Nothing happens to them. Also there are a lot of single family homes in the village that have more then one family living in them. That needs to be monitored more closely. But then people might say that is racial profiling. If they are illegal they should be dealt with.

All I know is I'm not black & have received 2 tickets in ep in the last 3 years.....Lesson learned SLOW Down!

A few observations...Redeemer, Central, and Bernadette are all within a block of 95th street meaning that there are children crossing busy 95th street. If these minorities and others mentioned feel superior and don't feel the need to abide by the speed limit and risk injuring someone, let the police ticket them. Radar doesn't show color. And while they're ticketing them, let them also issue tickets for no insurance (cause it sure sucks getting hit by someone who doesn't have insurance), drugs (lots of heroin busts), guns and whatever else they can find. We live in a great town and I'm sick of all the complainers on Patch. Our taxes are fairly low in comparison to neighboring towns. It's quite simple- if you don't like EP, then move out (or don't drive through it).

Glad to see all those commenting on what a fine Village we have. I chose to raise my family here for many reasons. A crime rate of ZERO would be great but that's unrealistic. Keep up the great work EP!

Evergreen Park is a great place to live for the most part and the police do a great job most of the time. The statistic said that 70% of traffic stops involve minorities. It doesn't say what percentage was based on speeding as recorded by radar, which would be impartial as some posters noted.. As of the 2009 census, the racial makeup of the village was 83.41% White, 13.59% African American, and 4% Hispanic. There are a lot of people of color who drive into or through E.P. from Chicago and other areas, but trying to make 70% of traffics stops involving minorities sound about right math wise is comical.

Mike E could not agree more. We live in a wonderful Village and I for one am so very happy that I live here. EP Concerneds boss might be interested in how often he spend commenting on Patch articles during the day. Be careful you might get fired, not be able to afford the taxes and have to move. What a shame that would be.

I live 'next door' in Oak Lawn, but because of my job, I drive through Evergreen Park quite frequently. I have gotten a ticket for 34 in a 30 on 95th...I am white as white can be...does this mean that minorities do not get pulled over more, or ticketed more, or even arrested more? Nope. Does it mean that EP doesn't have a past history of not being...'friendly' to minorities? Nope. Those things can BOTH be true and NOT be mutually inclusive to each other. It STILL doesn't mean that minorities are being specifically picked out...is it POSSIBLE? Sure, anything is...but if you statistically were to document the ethnicities of all those driving through EP, or even just down 95th, only then would you have a better handle on how those statistics play out. Also, as mentioned above, things like radar pick up speeders much sooner than a cop can see WHO is driving a car, especially at night.
Does that mean EPPD doesn't give out garbage tickets? It does not. (I was pulled over by a cop who told me I was going four over...while he was going the opposite way and WITHOUT radar...in heavy traffic, at rush hour...um, sure I was.)
Is Evergreen Park KNOWN for being 'tough' on traffic? Yes. (Is 30mph a ridiculous speed for a main road in modern America? Yes.)
Does that mean that minorities are singled out, or are they more likely to be driving THROUGH EP to get to OTHER places to shop, not that the Plaza is a GHOSTTOWN? Like Chuckie Cheese, for instance? (Groan...) Possibly both.

EPPD is simply doing their job. Now as EP residents lets do ours. See who sponsors FOX32 news and call or e-mail those companies and tell them you will never use their services for sponsoring such liars

If you follow the law SURPRISE SURPRISE.. YOU DON'T GET PULLED OVER!!!!!!!!
Everyone has these theories about EP police officers. Do you have anything besides you getting pulled over to back up your reasoning for not liking them?! I think that's a no.
These police officers are honest to god some of the best guys/gals I know. Talking smack about them isn't going to change how many people get pulled over, so get over it, they're doing their job!!!
Quit pulling the pity card because your "colored".

Kay, just for the record. I am the boss. I'm a small business owner actually. And to say that YOUR MAYOR has helped small business in the village is a fabrication. A lie in fact. I have heard that these new businesses got huge tax breaks for coming here. What did we get? Zero....that's right in fact it has even went up. So Kay know what you're talking about before you open it.

simple concept, operate within the law, you don't get pulled over, but then some people don't understand simple.

It's 2013, can we stop using race as an excuse to break the law! I'd love to know how many of these stops also resulted in expired plates, suspended licences, no insurance but that won't get ratings. The police can drive behind you and see that you're plates are expired! They also cannot see what color you are while driving behind you. Instead of making excuses for why you were pulled over, just follow the rules and you'll be just fine! Otherwise, keep following the media right over that cliff!!

I live in EP and know the cops are there. Also, every person that comes flying past me is black. I'm also, half black so race isnt an issue with me, Just open your eyes and get off the race card.

After reading this story, and seeing that it stemmed from FOX NEWS ... that alone should be a big pointer. This station has become nothing but a "rag-mag" of news. Their stories and reports ONLY pick on one side of the story that makes the situation look worse than it is.
I, for one, being a resident of EP, commend our police FOR DOING THEIR JOB! If you are going to speed, blow through lights or signs, then you should be ticketed. The main street, 95th street, is a vein from the city to other suburbs. So, IF the % of the people are of a minority, it is because they pass through a village that is protective and watching out for the people in the limits. We are a growing community, with many places that people of ALL enthenticities coose to shop and spend their money at.
It is a shame that because there is a bad situation, that someone has to cry out and pull the "minority card" to try to make it look as though our poice force is "picking on them". Don't want to be ticketed, don't do the crime in order to be put in that predicament.

Consider the source of this insane info on EP police. Fox News, the most idiotic news channel ever! I for one commend EP Police on doing an outstanding job in protecting our kids & our wonderful community.
I'm a minority and received a ticket in the past. I never had any reason to believe the ticket was due to racial profiling. I made an illegal left turn pulling out of the CVS on 95th & Kedzie. At the time I didn't realize the new "No left turn" sign. Simple mistake on my part and I was caught by EP police and given a ticket. End of story. If I felt there was some racial profiling, I'm not gonna run to Fox News and tell them about it. Trust when I say you'll see me front & Center at the EP police station with the officers badge number in one hand & the ticket in the other, ready to file a complaint. Follow the rules and you won't get pulled over. As far as the percentages go, how can you compare EPs percentages of minority pullovers due to traffic violations to the surrounding suburbs & Chicago when EP is the smallest community compared to the others?? What other police department do you know of that makes time to "Hook a Kid on Golf", or teach our kids about the importance of staying away from drugs in the "DARE" programs @ our grammar schools?? Or even teach our kids about bike safety?? Did Fox news mention anything about that? I would assume the answer is no.

I am so glad to see that the majority of comments are in support of EP. My husband and I both grew up in Beverly and knew long ago that you had to watch your speed when going through EP. Fox News is a joke. It's a typical example of comparing statistics incorrectly. Perhaps if reporters ever took a statistics class, they would know what facts need to be included, and when NOT to compare apples to oranges. Thank you to "Have to comment" above. You are a realist. I see a lot of wonderful friendships and working relationships with us "white people" and "minorites" in EP ... We are all people! Let's all stop worrying about color and culture. Embrace it. Learn about it. Then choose your friends. FOX News, get out of EP. We have some great things going on in this area and are very proud.

95th is THE major street for people going from the southeast side to the southwest side. Take a look at the crime reports they are being stopped for speeding,no plates,plates expired no turn signal & so on. If you know there is a good chance you will be stopped if your in violation of the law.....and continue to do so, well then suffer the consequences...

Evergreen Park Police and Fire are the best! They actually DO SERVE AND PROTECT! They are looking out for the citizens who abide by the law. A couple of weeks ago some idiot decided 30mph wasn't enough, so he zooms in the parking lane on the right of 3 lanes, and then smashed into the curb and then flew into some poor lady exiting the car wash, who in turn hits another car and sends it into Bleekers wall. So its part of this bs racial profiling because he was of color? give me a break. Try crossing 95th street and also sit near Pete's and watch the Chicago jerks flying down 95th (I can see the city sticker) and they also pull out in front of traffic with no regard to laws. I'm sick of these idiots claiming racial profiling when its just a fact!! Remember they used to say the same crap about Hometown Police. and Fox 32?? LMBO!! pathetic!