Over the past few days law enforcement officers representing various agencies from surrounding areas converged in response to a gang wake being held at the Parkwyn Funeral Home in Berwyn for an alleged gang member who was fatally shot last week by police officers in another jurisdiction. According to Division Commander Michael Cimaglia of the Berwyn Police Department, “At no time were there any threats of harm or danger to the citizens and businesses of Berwyn. We were on a heightened alert for this particular event because of the circumstances surrounding the individual’s manner of death and that credible intelligence that was gathered related that there were very specific threats that targeted first responders (police officers, fire fighters and EMS paramedics).” Cimaglia further related that the high presence of police officers in the area was for deterrence purposes and to assure the citizens and businesses that the City of Berwyn was in complete control during the wake.

“This was a textbook example of how several police agencies work collectively and collaboratively with one another”, stated Berwyn Police Investigative Unit Commander Joseph Santangeloj who headed the logistical operations of this event. In order to conduct such a concerted undertaking officers from Cicero, North Riverside, Lyons, Riverside, Oak Park, Forest Park, Bridgeview, Addison, Cook County Sheriff’s Office, Cook County Air Patrol, Northern Illinois Police Alarm System (NIPAS) Field Force Unit /
Emergency Service Team and Illinois Law Enforcement Alarm System (ILEAS) supplemented Berwyn’s man power base at no cost due to intergovernmental agreements. Several proactive street stops throughout the two day event yielded two warrant arrests along with the gathering of quality criminal intelligence from multiple sources. On the day of the burial the consortium of officers assured that the procession exited the City of Berwyn and arrived safely at the cemetery.