Robinson Police Department - IL

05/14/2026

Robinson, IL — The Robinson Police Department is joining law enforcement agencies across Illinois for the 2026 “Click It or Ticket” campaign running May 15-26 during the Memorial Day travel period.

“Buckle up every trip, every time,” said Chief Schmidt. “Seat belts save lives, and we are committed to keeping our roads safe.”

Officers will conduct high-visibility enforcement day and night, focusing on seat belt violations. Motorists who fail to buckle up can expect to be stopped and ticketed.

Illinois law requires all drivers and passengers to wear seat belts. While usage has increased to 93% in 2025, unrestrained fatalities remain a concern — especially at night.

The “Click It or Ticket” initiative is funded with federal highway safety funds administered by the Illinois Department of Transportation. For more information on safe driving practices, visit ItsNotaGameIllinois.com.

05/10/2026

The Robinson Police Department would like to wish a very Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers in our community.

We would also like to thank and recognize the three members of our department that are able to balance all the duties of motherhood along with their careers at RPD. Thank you!

05/04/2026

Robinson, Ill. The Robinson Police Department announced it issued 13 citations and made 1 Driving Under the Influence arrest during April's Distracted Driving Awareness Month enforcement campaign.

"Distracted driving remains a serious problem in Robinson, and one moment of inattention can change lives forever," said Chief Schmidt. "High-visibility enforcement is one way we remind drivers that safe driving requires their full attention. April may be over, but our message is not. The Robinson Police Department will continue enforcing distracted driving laws and urging motorists to put the phone away whenever they get behind the wheel."

The Robinson Police Department joined forces with the Illinois State Police, local law enforcement and highway safety partners for this enforcement effort.

The Illinois distracted driving campaign was funded with federal traffic safety funds administered by the Illinois Department of Transportation.

04/23/2026

There are still a couple weeks left to apply! Applications are due May 4th at 3:00PM!

Applications can be found at:
https://cityofrobinson.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Robinson-Police-Department-Application.doc

04/09/2026

03/31/2026

Put the phone away or pay. Law enforcement steps up April distracted driving enforcement.

Robinson, IL– In recognition of Distracted Driving Awareness Month, the Robinson Police Department is partnering with the Illinois Department of Transportation, the Illinois State Police and local law enforcement agencies across Illinois to step up enforcement efforts throughout April. Motorists can expect increased patrols looking for texting, social media use, video viewing and other distracted driving violations.

"Distracted driving puts everyone at risk, and even a quick glance at a phone can have devastating consequences," said Chief Eric Schmidt. "During April, officers will be looking for distracted driving violations and reminding motorists to put the phone away and focus on the road."

If you need to send a message, check directions or return a call, pull over and park safely first. Whatever the solution, do not drive distracted.

In Illinois, manually using an electronic communication device while driving is not only dangerous, but also illegal. Put the phone away or pay.

The Illinois distracted driving campaign is funded with federal traffic safety funds administered by the Illinois Department of Transportation.

03/28/2026

The Robinson Police Department has been made aware of a Facebook post concerning a neighboring law enforcement agency's call for service on 3/26/2026 which misrepresents the actions taken by RPD officers. The purpose of this brief post is to clarify our officers' actions.

It is not uncommon for law enforcement agencies to assist neighboring agencies, especially when requested to do so or when faced with a situation that could be particularly dangerous. RPD officers responded to this call for service to assist, outside of the city, due to information received suggesting fi****ms were involved. Once on scene RPD officers detained one adult male subject, ensuring the scene was safe. Upon arrival of a sufficient number of law enforcement officers from the agency with jurisdiction, RPD officers departed to respond to a separate call for service in the city.

Due to this incident occuring outside of our jurisdiction, RPD officers were not actively involved in any arrest decision or any ongoing investigation. RPD officers did not transport anyone from the scene. Our officers responded to the scene solely to ensure the safety of everyone involved.

Eric Schmidt
Chief of Police

03/26/2026

The Robinson Police Department announces St. Patrick’s Day Impaired-driving enforcement results.

Robinson, Illinois – The Robinson Police Department announced it made 1 impaired- driving arrest and issued 17 speeding citations during the St. Patrick’s Day enforcement period (March 13 through 6 a.m. March 23). Additional enforcement taken during this period included 2 drug arrests, 2 unlicensed driver citations, 1 Illegal Transportation of Alcohol citation, 1 Scott’s Law violation citation and multiple other citations.

“We strongly enforce traffic laws for one reason—to save lives,” said Chief Schmidt. “Whether it’s alcohol, cannabis or another drug, impaired driving puts everyone at risk.”

The Robinson Police Department joined forces with state and local law enforcement and highway safety partners in the St. Patrick’s Day “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” and “Drive High. Get a DUI” enforcement campaign.

The safety effort was funded by federal highway safety funds administered by the Illinois Department of Transportation.

03/24/2026

The Robinson Police Department is hiring! The application deadline is 3:00pm on Monday, May 4th, 2026. We also continue to accept applications from those seeking a lateral transfer. See the bottom of this post for details on our lateral applicant process.

Applications can be found on our website:

http://cityofrobinson.com/police-department/

Applications can also be picked up at the police department during normal business hours. Beginning pay for entry level police officer is $68,700.34. The first two patrolman pay increases are at 1 year ($75,538.88) and 5 years ($78,530.74). Benefits include: health insurance, dental insurance, paid time off (vacation, personal, and holidays), pension plan, supplemental 457(b) retirement plan, and uniform allowance.

Qualified entry-level applicants will be contacted via email and must attend the physical and written testing on Saturday, May 9th, 2026. The physical testing will be conducted at 9:00am at 2000 N. Cross St. in Robinson and the written testing will be conducted at 10:00am at 300 S. Lincoln St. in Robinson. Lateral applicants are not subject to testing and will be notified of their interview date/time via email.

In order to prepare for and familiarize yourself with the physical testing (P.O.W.E.R. Test), please visit: www.ptb.illinois.gov

Successful candidates will then be invited for interviews.

Qualifications:
- U.S. Citizen
- At least 21 years of age at time of hire
- Less than 35 years of age IF NOT a certified police officer in Illinois or a reciprocal state
- No felony conviction(s) or misdemeanor convictions for crimes of moral turpitude or domestic violence
- High School diploma

Any questions can be directed to [email protected]

Lateral transfers are encouraged to apply and are treated confidentially. We respect the risk of seeking new employment while currently employed. We strive to not disrupt current employment while proceeding through our hiring process. Lateral applications will only be shared with the Chief of Police and three Police Commissioners until they are considered for an interview. A lateral applicant's references and employers will not be contacted without prior authorization from the applicant, and then only when considered for a position. Lateral applicants will be given prior notification of their position on a hiring list prior to the list becoming public. A lateral applicant may remove their name from consideration up to the point of public posting. Lateral entry pertains to certified peace officers with at least 2 years of service. Laterals will be given credit for their service time, and slotted as such on our longevity pay scale up to a maximum of 5 years. Lateral applicants should email their application directly to the Chief of Police at [email protected] (the subject line of the email should read "Lateral Applicant - Confidential).

The Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board is the state agency mandated to promote and maintain a high level of professional standards for law enforcement and correctional officers.

03/24/2026

03/09/2026

Robinson, IL – St. Patrick’s Day will be here before we know it, bringing parades, parties, green beer and more to communities throughout the state. To remind motorists of the dangers of impaired driving and to help keep our streets safe, The Robinson Police Department is teaming up with the Illinois State Police and Illinois Department of Transportation for a stepped-up traffic safety campaign running March 13 through 6 a.m. March 23.

“With St. Patrick’s Day falling on a Tuesday this year, we expect celebrations throughout the entire week — plus the weekends before and after,” said Chief Schmidt. “We urge everyone to celebrate responsibly. Plan ahead for a sober ride home before you leave the house — your safety and the safety of others depends on it.”

During the enforcement period, the Robinson Police Department will be looking for drivers impaired by alcohol and cannabis along with other drugs, including prescription medications that can affect driving. Officers will also be stepping up seat belt enforcement, particularly at night when seat belt usage rates are lowest. Speeding, distracted driving and all traffic laws will be strictly enforced.

Whether you’re attending a party, hosting friends or going out to a bar, keep safety at the forefront. When it’s time to leave, make sure your designated driver is sober. Remember that walking or biking while impaired — whether by alcohol, cannabis or other drugs can also be dangerous, so choose a sober friend to go with you. Designated drivers: Be alert for impaired walkers who may not obey street signs. It’s not about luck; it’s about smart decisions.

Other important tips:
 Drunk, high or otherwise impaired — it doesn’t matter. It is never okay to drive impaired. Designate a sober driver or plan to use public transportation or a ride service to get home safely.
 If you see an impaired driver on the road, call 911 and report it.
 Have a friend who is about to drive impaired? Take the keys away and help them get a safe ride home.
 Always buckle up!

The St. Patrick’s Day “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” and “Drive High. Get a DUI” enforcement campaign is funded by federal traffic safety funds from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and administered by IDOT.