Beecher Police Seek $52,500 State Grant to Fund Flock Cameras and Retail Enforcement

Village of Beecher Board of Trustees Meeting | March 23, 2026

Article Summary: The Beecher Village Board authorized Police Chief John Galvin to apply for a $52,500 grant from the Illinois Attorney General’s Office to combat organized retail crime. If awarded, the funds will exclusively cover technological upgrades and focused officer overtime.

Retail Crime Grant Key Points:

• The village is applying for the Illinois Attorney General’s Organized Retail Crime Grant Program.

• $32,500 of the requested grant would pay for Flock Camera fees.

• $20,000 would be dedicated to police overtime for specific retail corridor details and enforcement.

• The application deadline is March 31, 2026, with funding slated to begin July 1.

The Beecher Village Board on Monday, March 23, 2026, unanimously authorized the Beecher Police Department to pursue state funding to bolster its surveillance and enforcement capabilities within the village’s retail sectors.

Following a recommendation from the Public Safety Committee, the board voted 6-0 to allow Police Chief John Galvin to submit an application for the Illinois Attorney General’s Organized Retail Crime Grant Program. The village is requesting a total of $52,500.

According to Trustee Joe Tieri, the funds are earmarked for two specific crime-prevention strategies. The bulk of the money, $32,500, will be used to pay fees associated with the village’s Flock Safety cameras—a network of automated license plate readers designed to track suspect vehicles entering and exiting the municipality.

The remaining $20,000 will be used to fund direct police overtime, allowing officers to conduct dedicated enforcement details specifically within Beecher’s retail corridors.

The department faces a tight turnaround, with the grant application due by March 31, 2026. If successful, the grant award would take effect on July 1, 2026.