Applications for Patrol Officer
The department uses a different application for the position of patrol officer than the City’s standard employment application. Please click on the link below to download it in adobe acrobat format.
Officer Complaint & Commendation Forms
Officer Complaint Form click here
Officer Commendation Form click here
Welcome to the Rock Falls Police Department
As the Chief of Police of the Rock Falls Police Department, I would like to take the opportunity to welcome you to our website and provide you a brief introduction to our Department.
Contact the Police Department (non-emergency)
David Pilgrim, Chief of Police
The Rock Falls Non-emergency number is still (815)622-1140. No services have changed, the only difference is the phone will be answered TWINCOM, instead of Rock Falls Police.
The Rock Falls Police Department takes great pride in serving our community of approximately 9,000 residents. We are committed to providing the highest quality of police service in a professional and courteous manner.
We are committed to keeping our city safe by responding to the needs of the community and engaging in proactive enforcement, intervention and prevention strategies. This includes staying involved and working closely with our schools, businesses and community groups.
The Rock Falls Police Department frequently speaks to local businesses, banks, schools, and any other agency that request our service. This enhances our efforts to educate the community on what it is we do and forge a stronger trust and bond with the citizens of Rock Falls.
As you visit this website, it is my hope that you will become more educated about the Rock Falls Police Department. I also encourage your suggestions, as well as your concerns or comments and invite you to contact me at 815-622-1140.
David L. Pilgrim, Chief of Police
Police Department Staff
The Rock Falls Police Department employs a staff of 25. Command staff includes the Chief of Police, Deputy Chief, an Administrative Assistant and 2 records clerks. The Patrol Division has 4 shifts, each with a Sergeant and 2 Patrol Officers who work 12-hour shifts which rotate every 4 weeks. Additionally, 2 Patrol Officers are assigned to a 2:00 pm – 2:00 am shift to provide additional coverage during the times of our highest call volume. The Investigations Division is made up of a Sergeant and 2 Detectives. The Police Department has one Patrol Officer assigned as a School Resource Officer in partnership with the Rock Falls High School and Elementary School Districts.
City of Rock Falls Off-Highway Vehicle Application
Rock Falls Police Legal Corner
New Legislation:
- NOTICE OF EXPUNGEMENT
Section 5-915 of the Illinois Juvenile Court Act, 705 ILCS 405/1-1 et seq. (the “Act”), provides
that on or before January 1 of each year, law enforcement agencies in the State of Illinois must
review their records and automatically expunge law enforcement records involving minors under
the age of 18 that meet certain criteria set forth in the Act.
Section 1-3 of the Act defines “Expunge” as follows:
“Expunge” means to physically destroy the records and to obliterate the minor’s name
and juvenile court records from any official index, public record, or electronic database.
In accordance with Section 5-923 of the Act, public notice is hereby given that the Rock Falls
Police Department has automatically expunged all qualifying juvenile records.
Additional information may be found regarding automatic expungement by reviewing the Act or
consulting an attorney - NOTICE OF EXPUNGEMENT
Public Act 101-0027, known as the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act (CRTA), became law on
June 25, 2019. The CRTA deemed a “Minor Cannabis Offense” eligible for expungement.
“Minor Cannabis Offense” is defined as follows in Section 5.2 of the Criminal Identification
Act:
“Minor Cannabis Offense” means a violation of Section 4 or 5 of the Cannabis Control
Act concerning not more than 30 grams of any substance containing cannabis, provided
the violation did not include a penalty enhancement under Section 7 of the Cannabis
Control Act and is not associated with an arrest, conviction or other disposition for a
violent crime as defined in subsection (c) of Section 3 of the Rights of Crime Victims and
Witnesses Act.”
Pursuant to the Criminal Identification Act all law enforcement agencies within the State are
required to automatically expunge all non-conviction “Minor Cannabis Offense” criminal history
records of arrest within specific time parameters.
In Accordance with Public Act 101-0027, public notice is hereby given that the Rock Falls
Police Department has automatically expunged all qualifying “Minor Cannabis Offense” records.
Additional information may be found regarding automatic expungement by reviewing the Act or
consulting an attorney
Beware of scams in our area. If you have questions, please contact the police department. If you have any information please call the Rock Falls Police Department.
Crimestoppers: 815-625-7867
Victim Notification Program
The link below is a universal resource locator for the Homeland Security Investigations Victim Notification Program. HSI administers the Victim Notification Program which allows eligible victims and witnesses to obtain reliable and timely information regarding a criminal alien’s release from custody.
http://www.ice.gov/victim-notification/
Sex Offender Information
The Rock Falls Police Department is cooperating with the Whiteside County Sheriff’s Department in a local sex offender registration and public notification website called “Offender Watch”. All sex offenders in Whiteside County registered by any law enforcement agency will be listed on this site. Citizens may search the web site for potentially dangerous sex offenders and predators in close proximity to their homes. A citizen may enter any address into the site and see a map and listing of all sex offenders within a radius of .25 miles out to 2 miles. The address can be registered to be continuously monitored by the sheriff and an email alert will be sent to the citizen if an offender registers at an address within the specified radius.
Offender Watch
Offender Watch is the nation’s leading registered sex offender management and community notification tool. Whiteside County’s law enforcement utilizes Offender Watch to manage and monitor the whereabouts, conduct and compliance status of the registered offenders in Whiteside County. Offender Watch provides the most accurate and timely information available and now this information is available to you!
The Safe Passage Initiative is a police deflection program which offers assistance to those who are voluntarily seeking treatment for a substance use disorder.
The first step of entering the program is to enter a participating Law Enforcement Agency. (Rock Falls, Dixon, Sterling Police Departments and Lee and Whiteside County Sheriff Department) Tell them you are there for assistance with your substance disorder and need help. Drugs and paraphernalia can be turned into the police department without fear of being arrested. An officer or program coordinator will then assist you in completing the necessary paperwork to enter the program and a background check is completed. Upon the completion of paperwork you will be connected with a treatment facility for an over the phone assessment to determine if you are a fit for that facility. Safe passage has a partnership with medical detox facilities, inpatient facilities and outpatient facilities. These facilities do not guarantee a bed.
*If an individual has an active warrant for their arrest, they will need to take care of any outstanding warrants before placement into treatment is an option.
Administration Hearing/Ordinance
The City of Rock Falls has adopted an Administrative Adjudication Process as an alternative to Circuit Court. This process allows appeal of a wide range of municipal Ordinance complaints. All hearings are held at the Rock Falls City council chambers, on the third Tuesday of every month starting at 8:30 a.m. They are intended to expedite resolutions, reduce litigation expenses, and allow the Circuit Court to focus on more serious allegations.
An Administrative Hearing is a civil (not a criminal) proceeding. Persons found liable through an adjudication process may only be fined and /or ordered to comply with the City Code. Under the Administrative Hearing system an Administrative Hearing Officer determines if ordinance citations are valid. The following list contains the types of cases that may be heard in an Administrative Adjudication Process:
- Parking Tickets
- Curfew Violations
- Nuisance Violations
- Alcohol and Tobacco Violations
- Property Maintenance Violations
- Building Code Violations
- Fire Code Violations
- Zoning Code Violations
- Applicable Misdemeanor and Petty State Offenses
- Other Municipal Code Violations
City Ordinance Reminders
- Lawns. Keep your lawn cut and don’t blow grass clippings into the roadway.
- No illegal burning. Ordinance allows city residents to have recreational fires in a vessel, fire pit, or fireplace no larger than 6 feet in any dimension. Recreational Fires may be created using small dry sticks, limbs, logs etc. Recreational Fires must be extinguished by 1:00 am. They must be 50 foot from any residence or structure, and there is no burning allowed if the wind is over 10 miles per hour.
- Snow Emergencies. Once a snow emergency has been issued, persons shall park on even-numbered side streets during an even-numbered day of the month, or on an odd-numbered side of the street during an odd-numbered day of the month. Read more on our Street Department page.