Ford, Forest Park Mayor to Discuss CTA Crime and Overdose Prevention at Forest Park Blue Line Terminal Tuesday Morning

FOREST PARK, Ill. – State Rep. La Shawn K. Ford, D-Chicago, will join Forest Park Mayor Rory Hoskins Tuesday morning to call attention to crime and overdose prevention efforts on the CTA. They will be joined by law enforcement representatives at a press conference scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 4 at 11:30 a.m. at the CTA’s Blue Line terminal, located at 711 Des Plaines Ave. in Forest Park.

“When I talk to local officials, they’re pointing to emergency calls and problems with public safety around the Forest Park Blue Line CTA terminal,” Ford said. “The CTA is too important of a service to be neglected; we have to make sure we’re properly investing in this system so that every passenger can have the safe, timely journey they deserve. For those who are homeless or struggling with addiction, we also have to do what we can to help them find help and security as well.”

“Forest Park certainly appreciates Rep. Ford for his help in drawing attention to our public safety needs and our specific challenges,” Hoskins said. “We are a non-home rule community responsible for providing police services and emergency medical services for two separate, end of the line train stations serving the second largest county in the United States. We are specifically asking our state and county partners for help in the necessary funding for our burden in responding medical calls emanating from multiple CTA stations and for the state and county assistance in better escorting funerals involving gun violence victims that have unfortunately been termed as “rowdy funerals.”  

Ford will join Mayor Hoskins, Forest Park Police Chief Ken Gross, Forest Park Fire Chief Phil Chiappetta, Cook County Sheriff’s Department Chief of Police Leo Schmitz and members of the West Side Heroin and Opioid Task Force.

For more information, please contact RepFord@LaShawnFord.com.