Frequently Asked Questions
Below is a list of commonly asked questions, and the answers to each question. If you do not find the answer to your question on this page, please call our information desk at (309) 454-9535.
Q: What is the location of the Normal Police Department?
A: The Normal Police Department is located at 100 East Phoenix
Avenue, Normal, Illinois 61761. We also operate a community based
sub-station at 632 W. Orlando, (309) 433-3400.
Q: How can I get a copy of an incident or accident report?
A: Contact the City Clerk’s office located at Normal City Hall.
You will need to file a freedom of information request form. Accident
reports are $3.00 per report and all other reports at $.10 a page.
You will be contacted after your report has been copied to pick
it up.
Q: Is the Normal Police Department currently hiring?
A: We frequently have many different positions open. Please contact
the Town of Normal Human Resources Department to get a listing of
these jobs and their requirements, or
click here to go to the Human Resources Employment Opportunities
page. The Human Resources Department can be reached at (309)
454-9518.
Q: How can I contest a parking ticket?
A: Bring the parking ticket down to our front desk and ask the PSR
for a Parking Ticket Complaint Form. When completed, this form will
be reviewed by a committee and a decision will be made as to the
validity of your complaint. You will be notified of the decision
by mail. The cost of the ticket will not increase while your complaint
is being reviewed. NOTE: Our parking tickets are either orange or
yellow if your ticket is neither of these colors call the ISU Police
Department at 309-438-8631.
Q: How can I determine if someone is currently in jail?
A: The Normal Police Department transfers all of our custodies to
the McLean County Jail. We are not equipped to hold anyone for more
than a few hours. Please call the McLean County Jail at 309-888-5032
to determine is a person is incarcerated and the amount of bond
needed before he or she can be released.
Q: Where do I pay a traffic ticket?
A: The McLean County Circuit Clerks Office. The Clerks Office is
located on the third floor of the Law and Justice Center, 104 West
Front Street. The clerks office accepts cash, money orders and certified
checks.
Q: I believe my car was wrongly towed, what can I do?
A:
- Towing firms licensed by the Town of Normal may tow off of private and public property in compliance with Town Ordinance. Maximum towing fee is $85.00 plus storage after 24 hours. After hours release fees may also be applicable.
- If you get to your car before the vehicle is removed from the lot or roadway, you may prevent the tow by paying the tow operator the one-half the towing fee. This amount will normally be $25.00.
- If you wish to challenge the tow, or the fee assessed, you must first pay all towing fees to the towing company. Then you have five working days from the time you were towed to contact the Town of Normal Legal Department at City Hall at 454-9507 to request a post-tow hearing. There will be a $5 hearing fee, payable at that time. You will then be notified of the hearing date.
- The hearing will be to determine if the tow and/or fee was legitimate. If the tow or fee was not legitimate, you will receive the money you paid for the tow, as well as your hearing fee back.
Q: I have been receiving harassing telephone calls, what can
I do?
A: Contact the GTE Nuisance Bureau at 1-800-483-0622. They will
assist you in completing the necessary paperwork. Then you need
to bring the completed paperwork to the Normal Police Department
Information Desk and a Police Report will be completed. GTE can
then place a tap on your phone and notify us if they are able to
identify the suspect. You will also be required to keep a log of
calls you receive.
Q: How do I found out if my dog was picked up by the Animal
Warden?
A: Please call the McLean County Animal Shelter at 309-888-5060.
The Town contracts with the County to provide animal control services
therefore they can best answer your question.
Q: I need to be finger printed for a job application or a
professional license, will the police department do this?
A: Yes. Please come to the Police Department Information Desk and
explain what you need. Please bring the print card you were given
with you because we do not keep them on hand.
Q: I received a telephone call from a person soliciting money
for the Normal Police Department, is it legitimate.
A: The call is most likely legitimate, however, it was not from
the Normal Police Department. The Normal Policeman’s Benevolent
Association, Unit #22 does conduct a telephone solicitation campaign
each year. The P.B. & P.A. is the union representing Normal Police
Officers and Sergeants. Although the P.B. & P.A. is a charitable
organization, donations are not tax deductible.
Q: Why does it take two officers to respond to a call?
A: Many citizens call in and express concerns that there was two
or more officers present during their encounter with the police.
They often feel that they are not a threat to the officer and that
having more one is insulting them or implying that they are a criminal.
The following is written to explain why this happens, and dispel
the false rumors and misconceptions.
Officers are trained at a very early stage in their career that they need to look out for one another. They are taught that they need to take the initiative to head toward the area, and check on the well being of other officers out on calls and on traffic stops. The officer out on the traffic stop or the call, appreciates his fellow officers concern for his safety. In most instances the officer that stopped the violator did not request another unit.
Statistics tell us that for police officers, the most dangerous contact with the public is during the traffic stop. Officers are more likely to be injured or killed during traffic stops than at any other time.
Some traffic stops require the presence of two or more officers by departmental directive. When someone in the vehicle is to be taken into custody for any reason, two officers will be present. When an officer is going to conduct a field sobriety test the need for an additional officer is evident by the increased possibility of taking an intoxicated person into custody. Officers stopping vehicles that match the description of one involved in a recent crime will always be assisted by another officer. Depending on the location of the stop, it might be in bad area, and the number of occupants in the vehicle, numerous occupants and one officer is not ideal, might merit the sending of another unit to assist with the stop.
Although we operate with one officer units there are some occasions that there are already two officers riding together in the same squad car. The first fourteen weeks of a new officers training is with a field training officer in a two man unit.
I am sure there are other situations that would merit the presence of multiple units but these are the most common. If you hear another person questioning the presence of two officers, please inform them of the need for officer safety and the fact that they know they are a good person and are not going to harm the officer, does not mean the officer knows that. In this situation we do operate under the philosophy of "Better Safe than Sorry".