Crime & Safety

Police Chief: Concealed Carry to 'Change Way Officers Do Business on Street'

Police chiefs from Hinsdale and Burr Ridge discussed what will change locally as result of the new concealed carry law in Illinois.

The state’s new concealed carry law will change the way local police officers approach their day-to-day duties, two local police chiefs said.

Hinsdale Police Department Chief Brad Bloom and Burr Ridge Police Department Chief John Madden both said that while they don’t foresee many residents strolling around the two towns armed, officers will need to begin to assume that everyone is during traffic stops and other encounters.

“It’s going to change the way our officers do business on the street,” Madden said.

Find out what's happening in Hinsdale-Clarendon Hillswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Bloom made a similar case.

“It’s certainly going to be in the back of officers’ minds,” he said. “Certainly we’re going to change some practices.”

Find out what's happening in Hinsdale-Clarendon Hillswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Bloom and Madden both believe a number of Hinsdale and Burr Ridge residents will apply for concealed carry permits, which will be issued by the Illinois State Police. But the two chiefs said they think those that do take advantage of the law will more likely carry when they are away from home in other parts of the state.

“My sense is that a lot of people will take advantage in the areas where they may be more susceptible to crime,” Bloom said.

Madden has talked with several Burr Ridge residents who plan on obtaining a license.

“None of them have expressed concern that they’d have to carry a firearm in Burr Ridge,” he said.

Nevertheless, the chiefs aren’t without concerns regarding the new law.

Bloom said he’s worried that more guns will be left in unlocked cars targeted by burglars.

“The typical perpetrator [in a vehicle burglary] is a 14- or 15-year-old juvenile from the community,” Bloom said. “I’m just concerned about the possibility of increased presence of firearms in unsecured vehicles and them getting in the hands of juveniles.”

Madden voiced the same concern about unlocked cars, as well as a more general worry that ultimately will be the responsibility of the ISP, not his or Bloom's local police departments.

“Mostly my concerns are with keeping guns out of the hands of people that shouldn't have them,” he said. “I’m concerned the wrong people could get concealed carry permits.”


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.

More from Hinsdale-Clarendon Hills