Take
Note! Community
Tornado Shelters
The Freeburg Police Department is a full-time, full service police department. Twenty four hour a day 9-1-1 telecommunications dispatch all police cars. Besides 9-1-1 emergency dispatch, citizens may contact the police department 24 hours a day for non emergency calls by dialing 539-3131. During business hours, the department's administrative assistant may be reached at 539-3132. The department fax is 539-9872.
Chief of Police: Mel Woodruff
14 Southgate Center
Freeburg, IL 62243
618.539.3132
618.539.9872
email: fpd1@freeburg.com
The Freeburg, Illinois Police Department employs 7 sworn full-time police officers, 6 sworn part-time officers, and 1 civilian. The 13 sworn police officers all are graduates of a state of Illinois required police academy and are certified by the "Illinois Local Governmental Law Enforcement Officers Training Board". Most officers have college degrees in law enforcement with all officers obtaining hundreds of hours of training through the Southwestern Illinois Law Enforcement Commission. The 13 Freeburg officers have over 200 years of combined experience in police work.
The officers are governed by a policy manual that demands strong adherence to the "code of ethics", Law Enforcement Role and Authority, and the goals of the department. The policy manual's policies and procedures also give explanation of expectations for all officers and are directed at standardizing behavior and giving direction on a day-to-day basis.
- Drug Abuse Resistance Education
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Child Safety/Fingerprint Program
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Bicycle Safety
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Driver Education
- Neighborhood Watch
- National Seat Belt Campaign (Operation Buckle Down)
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Drive Safe Campaign
- Window Dots Program
- Vacation House Check
- Baseball Card Program
Freeburg Emergency Services & Disaster Agency
Freeburg Emergency Services & Disaster Agency, formerly called Civil Defense, and is also known as the Freeburg Emergency Management Agency. The Coordinator of the Freeburg ESDA/EMA is Eugene Kramer and he has been the Director since his appointment in the summer of 1973. Beginning in 1974, the Coordinator began the preparation for hazard mitigation against severe weather emergencies, namely Tornadoes. In 1974 the Freeburg CD Community Tornado Shelter Program began whereby residences of the Village of Freeburg could seek underground shelter if they did not have such provisions in their homes. In 1975 the Freeburg Civil Defense obtained and had installed Outdoor Warning Sirens with Defense Civil Preparedness Agency matching funds. The sirens remain in excellent working condition to date and have been upgraded from their former " telephone" circuit activation to " radio control" activation from the Freeburg ESDA office.
In 1976, the name change from Civil Defense to Emergency Service and Disaster Agency was made in Illinois. Then, in 1995, the name was changed to the Emergency Management Agency. At present, one of the many responsibilities of the Freeburg ESDA/EMA is to coordinate the emergency responses of Police, Fire, Utilities, and Ambulance services in the event of a major emergency in the Village of Freeburg.
In the Severe Weather portion of the Freeburg ESDA/EMA Emergency Operations Plan (EOP), many unique benefits and opportunities are provided to the citizens of Freeburg.
In the event of a Tornado Warning, the Freeburg ESDA/EMA Tornado Shelters will be opened and operated by Freeburg ESDA/EMA "shelter managers". These are trained volunteers within the organization. The shelter manager has radio communications with the Freeburg ESDA/EMA office where radio communications exist with the National Weather Service and the County ESDA.
The Community Tornado Shelters are as follows:
- St. Paul's United Church of Christ - basement area-educational class room section.
- Freeburg Community High School - underground locker and classroom area.
- St. Paul's United Church of Christ shelter is available 24 hours a day whenever there is a Tornado warning issued for St. Clair County and/or whenever there is a Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued for St. Clair County.
- Freeburg Community High School Shelter is available Monday - Friday from 6 PM to 6 AM and during weekends on a 24 hour basis (Saturday - Sunday).
There are 12 Freeburg ESDA members that work under Coordinator Kramer and if you wish to join as a volunteer, just call and leave your name
at the Village administrative office.
