Oak Park dog walkers can now sign up to be trained neighborhood safety observers through a new program run by the police department's Community Policing Division.

The Dog Walker Watch, announced Wednesday, July 29, pairs Officer Christine Simkus and Pawfficer Howie — the department's black Labrador community service dog — with residents who regularly walk their dogs. Participants will learn how to recognize and report suspicious activity while on their daily routes, adding eyes and ears to Oak Park's streets during their regular walks.

Signup is free.

The program is a local chapter of a national initiative run by the National Association of Town Watch, the same nonprofit behind National Night Out. According to the American Pet Products Association, more than 75 million dog owners nationwide means dozens of neighbors are already out walking at all times of day, every day of the week. Dog Walker Watch channels that foot traffic into a structured reporting network.

Residents who sign up will be invited to an informational meeting and receive a free Dog Walker Watch bandana for their dog. A specific meeting date has not yet been announced.

Who's leading it

Simkus is one of three Residential Beat Officers in Oak Park's Community Policing Division, alongside Officers Eric Locke and Raphael Murphy. The three share eight neighborhood beats across the village. The beat officer program itself was reinstated in February after an 18-month hiatus caused by low staffing levels. The department ended 2025 with 92 sworn officers, up from 85 the year before, but still short of its 116-officer goal.

"As a former beat officer myself, I know how important communication is for both residents and the department," Police Chief Shatonya Johnson said in February when the beat program returned. "The RBO program is an important tool that helps us engage in the type of neighborhood outreach that helps our community thrive."

Dog Walker Watch extends that outreach to four-legged partners. Pawfficer Howie, a former rescue dog, joined the department in June 2021 and has logged more than 1,250 hours of service training with SIT Service Dogs. His duties range from officer wellness support to victim comfort services and community engagement at public events.

How to sign up

The Oak Park Police Department posted a signup link on X on Wednesday, July 29. Residents can also reach Officer Simkus's team at [email protected].