This article was originally posted on July 8th, 2022
On July 4th, a tragic shooting occurred in the City of Highland Park during their 4th of July Parade. Seven people were killed and dozens were wounded. The Village of Riverwoods extends our support to the victims and families impacted by this senseless and cowardly act of violence.
On-duty Riverwoods Police officers responded to Highland Park immediately after the shooting. Riverwoods Off-duty officers assigned to the Northern Illinois Police Alarm System (NIPAS) Emergency Services Team and the NIPAS Mobil Field Force Team also responded.
In light of this senseless tragedy, it is important that we take steps to ensure this never happens again. Here is some information on what Riverwoods residents can do to help.
Firearm Restraining Order (FRO)
The Firearm Restraining Order (FRO), sometimes called a Red Flag Law, allows family members, household members, and law enforcement to work with courts to temporarily remove guns and prevent the purchase of new guns by individuals who pose a significant risk of harm to themselves or others.
Why Do We Need a FRO?
Easy access to guns is a significant risk factor for injury and death. In response to tragic events across the country, Illinois has made a commitment to addressing gun violence, leading to the passage of the FRO law. This law provides families, household members, and law enforcement a judicial pathway for temporarily removing firearms and prohibiting future gun purchases for the duration of the order.
How to Obtain a FRO:
Step 1: Request a petition from the Circuit Court of Lake County.
Step 2: Complete and submit the petition to the circuit court where the respondent or person in crisis lives.
Step 3: If the judge issues a FRO, the court will send the FRO to local law enforcement to serve the summons.
Step 4: Attend the hearing scheduled by the court. A hearing will be scheduled within 14 days of the summons being served.
If you are not a family member or household member or don't want to petition the court yourself, you can still contact the Riverwoods Police Department at 847-945-1820 to report an individual, who you believe possesses a firearm and may pose a significant risk of harm to themselves or others.
For more information, visit: https://www.lcsao.org/277/Firearms-Restraining-Order-FRO
For questions contact:
Bruce Dayno
Chief of Police
847-945-1130
bdayno@riverwoods.gov
