FOREST PARK, Ill. (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- A west suburban police department is struggling with the sudden deaths of two officers within days of each other.
Forest Park Police Officer Nick Kozak died unexpectedly on Nov. 27 at the age of 50, days after testing positive for COVID-19.
Then, Officer Jose Flores died at his home on Dec. 6. He was just 46.
"They were both great individuals, very well liked," Forest Park Mayor Rory Hoskins told WBBM. "A small town like Forest Park has a small police department, a very close knit police department. People around Village Hall are taking it really tough."
Forest Park Police Chief Ken Gross said, "We're surviving. We're trying our best to get through it. It was two young officers - one was 50 years of age, the other was 46. Both passed at home. Very unexpected events."
And Chief Gross said the Forest Park Police Department is not just coping with grief, but also a manpower shortage. The department had 34 officers, now it has 32.
"We're seeing our hiring list cut in more than half. We've noticed not as many people are testing with our department when we're offering the test [to become a police officer]. We just gave a test in November and we had 18 people on that list. In June, we had a list of 25 people, so we've already exhausted that list. In 2019, we had a list of 43 people. In 2018, we had a list of 42 people. 2017, we had a list of 51 people," Chief Gross said.
"Part of the reason, I don't think the job is as attractive anymore, because how the profession has been portrayed...Just about every department I talk to has low staffing right now.
"We're going to try to focus a little more on recruiting and seeing what we can do and what strategies we can take to make this job attractive," Chief Gross said
Mayor Hoskins said the community has been very supportive following the deaths of the two officers with donations of food and well wishes.
"We have support from our neighboring communities. Forest Park Police is very close to the Oak Park Police Department, the River Forest Police Department. Those chiefs have reached out," he said.
"Forest Park will deal with this. We'll keep soldiering on. Please continue to pray for our town."
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