The Oak Park Police Department used its official social media accounts the week of July 7 to push two practical reminders: residents can report non-emergency problems through an online portal instead of calling police, and two locations in the village accept unwanted prescription drugs at any hour.
Online reporting for non-emergency issues
The department posted on Tuesday, July 7, directing residents to the Village's online form at oak-park.us/reportaproblem for complaints like potholes, street light outages, and code violations. The system, also known as OP311, routes each report to the appropriate village department without tying up police dispatch.
The OPD said the form is for problems that "don't quite merit a call to the Police Department," encouraging residents to save 911 and non-emergency lines for situations that require an officer's response.
Two prescription drug drop-off locations
On Wednesday, July 8, the department reminded residents that secure disposal boxes accept expired or unwanted medications at two sites:
- Village Hall, 123 Madison St. The box is in the Police Department lobby on the lower level. Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
- Oak Park Township parking lot, 105 S. Oak Park Ave. The box sits in the back left corner of the lot, next to the blue bench.
Both locations accept tablets, capsules, and other solid medications. No liquids or sharps.
The Township box operates through a partnership between Oak Park Township Prevention Services and the Cook County Sheriff's office, established in February 2023. The Village's public health page confirms both sites remain active and notes that flushing medications can introduce trace drug residues into the local water supply.
Additional resources
Residents in single-family homes or buildings with five or fewer units can schedule at-home sharps collections through Lakeshore Recycling Systems at lrsrecycles.com/oakpark.
The Village offers free naloxone through its Opioid Overdose Prevention Program at oak-park.us/naloxone. The Illinois Helpline, 833-2FINDHELP, is available for anyone struggling with substance use.
The OPD also posted links to its latest police activity summaries on Wednesday, July 9. Those reports are accessible through the department's X account, @VOPpolice.
