The Park Forest Police Department reported on Mar. 9 that officers made 140 arrests for driving under the influence in 2025, marking the highest total ever recorded by the department and a significant increase from previous years.
The rise in DUI arrests represents a 59% jump from 2024, when there were 88 such arrests, and more than double the number from 2023, which saw 56 cases. Police officials said this increase is due to proactive enforcement rather than an uptick in impaired drivers.
“This shows the dedication our officers have to keeping the community safe,” Park Forest Police Chief Brian Rzyski said. “Driving under the influence puts everyone on the road at risk, and our officers are committed to identifying impaired drivers before they cause serious harm.” Officer Schwartz led with 47 DUI arrests, followed by Officer Nichols with 23. Other contributors included Sgt. Karl (nine), Detective Sgt. Purdy (eight), Officers Sitkauskas and Abu-Romman (six each), Detective Ayala and Officer Goycochea (five each), Officer Verdin (five), and Officers Behrens, Venn, Holt, along with Cmdr. Elyyan (four each).
Illinois law prohibits driving with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08% or higher or while impaired by drugs or alcohol. Penalties can include license suspension, fines, mandatory education programs, and possible jail time. Local agencies enforce these laws through traffic stops and targeted campaigns. Alcohol-impaired driving remains a leading cause of traffic fatalities nationwide according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
According to the official website, Village of Park Forest promotes community health and engagement via dedicated commissions and programs as well as providing educational opportunities through its Civic Leadership Academy to address community issues according to the official website. The village has also received accolades for sustainability efforts in town planning according to the official website and operates under a council-manager government featuring a mayor and six trustees as its governing body according to the official website. Park Forest aims to bolster economic conditions through collaboration and innovation according to the official website, while showing leadership in sustainability by supporting national climate protection agreements according to the official website.
Rzyski said that continued focus on DUI enforcement will remain part of broader public safety efforts: “Our goal is to prevent tragedies before they happen,” Rzyski said. “Every impaired driver taken off the road is potentially a crash prevented and a life saved.” Police say they will continue DUI patrols throughout Park Forest during the year.
