Facing ongoing staffing shortages and lagging recruitment, the Village of Winnetka is taking an unconventional approach to policing: supplementing its overnight patrols with private security officers from P4 Security Solutions. The move has sparked debate, but executives behind the program say it’s a pragmatic answer to a growing problem.
On Chicago’s Morning Answer Tuesday, Steve Vitale, Executive Vice President and Principal at P4, joined hosts Amy Jacobson and Chris Krok to discuss what he calls a “public-private partnership” built to help towns maintain safety while rebuilding their police forces.
“This isn’t a replacement for police,” Vitale said. “This is a temporary stopgap. Populations are rising, police resources are declining—this is a way to keep communities covered until departments can get fully staffed again.”
A First-of-Its-Kind Partnership in Winnetka
As part of its agreement with Winnetka, P4 provides two off-duty or retired law enforcement officers to patrol the village’s streets overnight from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m., using marked, co-branded vehicles. The officers are not acting as police, Vitale clarified, but they are licensed to carry firearms, observe, report, and in extreme circumstances, detain suspects until Winnetka Police arrive.
“They are trained professionals—some have 30 years on the job. And importantly, they’re skilled at de-escalating situations without force,” Vitale said, noting that none of P4’s officers have ever discharged their weapons while on duty.
Critics Question the Model
Guest co-host Chris Krok voiced skepticism during the interview, arguing that the program could disincentivize proper hiring and training in official police departments.
“I don’t buy the idea that they can’t hire,” said Krok. “I know former CPD officers who’ve applied to suburban departments and waited a year or more. Is this really about shortages—or is it about cutting costs?”
Vitale pushed back, saying departments are still hiring but struggling to find new recruits, especially amid the lingering effects of anti-police rhetoric, early retirements, and the aftermath of defund-the-police movements.
“We’re seeing departments competing with each other for the same shrinking pool of candidates,” he explained. “Billboards from Florida were trying to lure Chicago officers with signing bonuses and pension buyouts.”
Expansion into Chicago Neighborhoods
Winnetka is not alone. P4 Security is already operating in Chicago neighborhoods like Lincoln Park, Bucktown, and Streeterville, largely through private neighborhood associations or hospital contracts.
In these areas, P4 uses crime data analytics to predict hot spots and deploy resources accordingly. Residents in Bucktown, for instance, have created a Slack channel where they can alert patrols in real-time—often resulting in response times of under a minute.
“In one case, residents reported possible gunshots. Our officer arrived immediately, confirmed it was just fireworks, and prevented 500 people from calling 911,” said Vitale.
A Growing Trend with Growing Concerns
While Vitale emphasized that P4 is not a replacement for official police departments, the rise of private patrols underscores an unsettling reality: many communities no longer feel safe relying solely on public law enforcement.
Jacobson shared a story of a neighbor in Chicago who was held up at gunpoint and waited over 90 minutes for police to respond. In cases like that, she said, the presence of P4 officers provides both real security and peace of mind.
“We’re not here to take over,” Vitale added. “We’re here to support. Until departments are fully staffed again, this is part of the solution.”
Looking Ahead
With crime rates and response times still troubling in parts of the city and suburbs alike, public-private policing partnerships may become more common in Illinois. But the question remains: will this model supplement traditional policing—or eventually replace it?
For now, Vitale says P4 is just focused on filling the gaps, using trained, professional former law enforcement officers who still want to serve, but outside of full-time police roles.
Learn more about P4 Security Solutions at p4companies.com