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 is notable as it represents a 59% increase from the 88 arrests made in 2024 and more than double the 56 arrests recorded in 2023. Police officials said this growth reflects 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 contributing officers 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 when drugs or alcohol impair safe vehicle operation. Penalties for DUI 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, accounting for about one-third of all traffic deaths annually according to federal data.
According to the official website, Village of Park Forest promotes community health and engagement via dedicated commissions and programs. The village has also received accolades for its sustainability efforts in town planning and community practices according to its official website. In addition, Village of Park Forest aims to bolster economic conditions and deliver municipal services through collaboration and innovation as reported by its official website.
Rzyski said the department will continue focusing on DUI enforcement as 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 maintain DUI patrols throughout the year.
