For nearly five decades Chief Frank Kaminski has served the policing profession in a leadership role for three separate agencies. He has been known as a pro-active, value based leader who focuses on transforming and sustaining partnerships throughout the communities he has served.
During his time with the Evanston, Illinois Police Department, the department was accredited and was recognized locally and nationally for its community policing initiatives as well as following the best practices in policing. He engineered the Evanston Partnership style of policing: police and community working together, which noted a 50 percent reduction in the Index Crime Rate. Other initiatives included multi jurisdictional task forces focusing on gangs and drugs, a Citizens Police Academy, the Chief’s Advisory Board and Police Chaplains.
Chief Kaminski continued to serve the Evanston community as Director of Public Safety at Evanston Township High School District 202, addressing issues of safety and violence while developing partnerships with the community. One initiative in particular was the Positive Presence Program with local clergy to target gang loitering in the area surrounding the high school. Another initiative created a dual credit program where students attended an introduction to law enforcement course and earned high school and college credits.
In 2009, Chief Kaminski became Chief of the Park Ridge, Illinois Police Department with the focus of providing short and long range strategies to address the critical issues identified in the 2008 audit of the Park Ridge Police Department to enhance public trust, professionalism and teamwork. As a result, the department reengineered a department-wide community policing philosophy, entitled PACT (Police and Community Together). In addition, he established systems of accountability regarding citizen complaints and internal investigations. The department was accredited, and in addition, a Chief’s Advisory Board was created to oversee the transformation of the organization. Most recently, the department was the recipient of a Department of Justice/COPS office grant entitled “Beyond CIT: Building Community Response to People with Mental Illness,” which helped personnel focus on de-escalation especially during use of force incidents. The department also worked with the University of Illinois, Chicago to become one of the first departments to be trained in procedural justice for all personnel, officers and supervisors. Additionally, the department became one of the first to institute the “Coffee with a Cop” program, and introduced the Police Cadet Program.
Chief Kaminski has spent his career immersing himself in the communities he serves. His mission has been to develop professionally and personally, sharing his experiences with other police professionals and accepting challenges and opportunities to improve the policing profession through the development of community policing and looking at solutions through evidence based research.
PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION
- Master of Public Administration, Roosevelt University, Chicago, IL
- Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL
- Kellogg Graduate School of Management, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL
- Law Enforcement Executive Development Seminar, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Quantico, VA, 42nd Session
- Executive Institute for Chiefs of Police, Northwestern University Traffic Institute, Evanston, IL
- Senior Management Institute for Police, Harvard University/Police Executive Research Forum, Boston, MA
- Federal Bureau of Investigation, 154th Session, National Academy, Quantico, VA
- Certified Police Chief, Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
- University of Illinois/Chicago, Dept of Criminal Justice, Adjunct Instructor
- Oakton Community College, Adjunct Instructor
- Governors State University, Adjunct Instructor
- Northwestern University Center for Public Safety, Adjunct Instructor AWARDS
- Kiwanis International Hixson Award for Outstanding Community Service
- Evanston Chamber of Commerce Community Leadership Award
- Polish-American Police Officer of the Year Award
- Recognition for 25 years of service to the Special Olympics
- Illinois Security Professionals Association Public/Private Liaison Award
- Lifetime Achievement Award, Park Ridge Chamber of Commerce
- Certification of Recognition, Illinois Senate
MEMBERSHIPS AND AFFILIATIONS
- Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police
- International Association of Chiefs of Police
- Commission on Law Enforcement Accreditation
- North Regional Major Crime Task Force
- Institute for Public Safety Partnerships
- North East Multi-Regional Training Academy
- Major Case Assistance Team
- International Police Planners Association
- Police Executive Research Forum (PERF)
LOCAL GOVERNMENT PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND
Over 49 Years of Experience in Public Safety
- Park Ridge Police Department 2009-2023
– Chief of Police - Evanston Township High School 2006-2009
– Director of Public Safety - Evanston Police Department, IL
– Chief of Police 1996-2006
– Deputy Chief 1987-1996
– Executive Assistant to Chief of Police 1985-1987
– Police Commander 1984-1985
– Director of Planning & Research Bureau 1980-1984
– Officer/Investigator 1974-1980
