Police
Police Protection
In 1976, the Village entered into its first contract with the Macon County Sheriff’s Office, to provide the Village with 24-hour police protection. The Village has entered into a series of follow-up contracts with the Sheriff’s Office since that time.
The Sheriff’s Office provides the Village with five regular police officers on duty working in three shifts. Included are two daytime officers, two evening officers, and one overnight officer, all of whom work staggered shifts to maximize police coverage in the Village. Macon County assumes all liability and equipment costs; also provided are services above the normal patrol needs such as bike patrol. This arrangement is particularly advantageous to the Village as, by terms of the contract, in addition to regular and bicycle patrol, to the extent it may be needed, the Village has access to other Sheriff’s services, including but not limited to: K-9 unit, special detail, detective unit, juvenile detective unit, evidence officer, full-time school resource officer, U.S Marshal services, civil process officers and specially-trained deputies (internal affairs, firearms instruction, dive team, etc.).
Police Contract (222 KB)
Police Department Staff
The officers regularly assigned to the Village include the following:
Bart Hickey
Deputy
Deputy Hickey has been employed with the Macon County Sheriff’s Office as a deputy since 2009. Prior to his employment with the Sheriff’s office, he was employed with the DeWItt County Sheriff’s Office, where he served as a deputy for six years. Deputy Hickey was born and raised in the Decatur-Warrensburg area, and graduated from Western Illinois University in 2000 with a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice. Deputy Hickey works the overnight shift, 10:40 pm to 6:40 am.
Timothy Houk
Deputy
Deputy Houk has been employed in law enforcement for the past six years, having served with the Warrensburg and Mt. Zion police departments before joining the Macon County Sheriff’s Department. In 2008. Deputy Houk’s special assignments include S.E.T. team members and GRACIE ground fighting tactics instructor. Deputy Houk holds an an associate’s degree in Criminal Justice, and is a recipient of the Illinois TOP COP award for DUI enforcement. Deputy Houk joined the Forsyth patrol in 2010. He works night shift for the Village, 5:40 pm to 1:40 am.
Patrick Smith
Deputy
Dep. Smith started his law enforcement career with the Macon County Sheriff’s Office as a correctional officer in the Macon Co. Jail in 2006. In 2009 he was promoted to the position of deputy sheriff. As a lifelong resident of Macon County, Dep. Smith graduated high school from the Meridian School District and attended Richland Community College. Dep. Smith was assigned to the Argenta Contractual program prior to be assigned to the Village of Forsyth. Dep. Smith has extensive training in the detection of intoxicated drivers and is a certified bike patrol officer. In 2011, Dep. Smith was recognized as a Top Cop by the State of Illinois for his D.U.I. enforcement for the year. Dep. Smith is currently assigned to the 1:40pm to 9:40pm shift.
David Pittenger
Deputy
Dep. Pittenger began is law enforcement career with the Macon County Sheriff’s Office in 2009. The two years prior to being assigned to the Village of Forsyth, Dep. Pittenger was assigned to the City of Macon Contractual. Dep. Pittenger is a member of the Macon County Sheriff’s Office S.E.T. (Sheriff’s Enforcement Team) as well as a member of the Illinois Law Enforcement Alarm System (I.L.E.A.S.). As a member of I.L.E.A.S. Dep. Pittenger has been extensively trained in responding to and handling large scale emergencies. The most recent I.L.E.A.S. deployment was the 2012 N.A.T.O. conference in Chicago, where team members were deployed to handle the large crowd of protestors at the event. Dep. Pittenger has extensive training in the detection of intoxicated drivers and is also a certified bike patrol officer. As a lifelong resident of Macon County, Dep. Pittenger is a graduate of Maroa-Forsyth Schools and attended 3 years at Millikin University. Dep. Pittenger is currently assigned to the 5:40pm to 1:40am shift.
M. Rade
Deputy
Employed 04-30-1990-2013
23 year veteran with the Macon County Sheriffs Department.
I have worked the Forsyth Patrol division in 1992, 1995, 2000, 2002-2004, and 2012-2013
Presently I work the day shift patrol in Forsyth. During my employment with the Sheriffs Office I had been certified as an armorer for firearms including shotguns, rifles, and handguns. I was also certified as an automatic weapons instructor.
I am happily married and live in N/E Macon County.
Erik Dowdy
Deputy
Deputy Dowdy started his Law Enforcement career in 2006 with the Macon County Sheriff's office as a correctional officer. In 2010 he was promoted to Deputy Sheriff and was assigned to the Forsyth Contractual position for approximately six months. Dep. Dowdy was then assigned to Macon Contractual prior to being assigned to Forsyth Contractual in 2013. Deputy Dowdy is a lifelong resident of Macon County graduating from Meridian High School and attended Illinois State University graduating with a bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice. Deputy Dowdy is a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom and completed in six year military service in 2008. Deputy Dowdy has had extensive military training and was a member of the Emergency Response Team while in Ba lad, Iraq. Deputy Dowdy has also had the opportunity to work beside members of the Black Water Security during his military career. Deputy Dowdy currently works the 1:40 p.m. to 9:40 p.m. shift.
Forsyth residents may opt to receive emergency telephone notifications from the Macon County Sheriff’s Office. To enroll in this service, click on the following link: www.sheriff-macon-il.us and click on the CodeRED button.
In addition, We encourage Forsyth residents who will be away from their homes to complete the VACATION FORM below and return it to Village Hall. We will see that our patrol deputies are made aware of your absence so that they may pay additional attention to your property while on patrol.
Vacation Notice (18 KB)
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