Commissioner Dennis Miller
Chief of Police: Michael B. O'Neill, Appointed 2004
The Benton Police Department is located in the Benton City Hall at 500 W. Main Street. Like most police departments across the United States the Benton Police Department is a small department consisting of nine sworn officers, including the Chief of Police, and one Administrative Assistant. The Franklin County Sheriff’s Department provides radio dispatch duties. Currently, seven officers serve in a patrol capacity and one serves as the Department Investigator. The BPD has an auxiliary unit currently comprised of seven auxiliary officers, which provide police assistance at parades, school sporting events and other functions where large numbers of people gather.
The Benton Police Department is a very professional department, handling law enforcement incidents ranging from traffic enforcement, theft, domestic violence and felony crime investigations. We cooperate fully with other police agencies within our jurisdiction. Our department handled over 4250 calls for police service in 2006. These calls for service generated over 2000 police reports.
In service training continues to be routine at the Benton Police Department. The Department currently has a certified Range Officer, TASER Instructor and a Field Training Officer. Special emphasis has been placed on investigative skills officers need to successfully complete cases. Two officers are currently trained in specialized interviewing skills. Our officers are dedicated professionals who continue to learn new programs, techniques and skills every day of their careers.
We have also taken an active approach to both solving and subsequently preventing juvenile crime. It is the department’s position that is better to steer youngsters in the right direction before they become involved in the crime. To that end, our police department has three certified juvenile officers, with more planned for in the future.
The Benton police officers, Administrative Assistant and the Chief work tirelessly to protect our citizens and make our community safe for all to live and work.
If you have any comments, constructive criticisms or positive suggestions on how we can better serve you contact Chief Mike O’Neill at 618-439-4504 or e-mail.
