Oakwood Hills Police Departments

I realize many have had negative experiences with our Oakwood Hills PD. I have also had my own long, and traumatizing experiences with them. But I have to acknowledge that these experiences are centered on only one person: Sargent Bernadette Searcy (of whom thankfully, is no longer a part of this police force) I was arrested on 2 occasions by Searcy after first (finally) deciding to call 911 because of one of the many times my husband had hit me, and for reasons I will never understand, I was arrested. The second, I had thrown my husband’s computer (I had been living for years knowing he was cheating on me) Searcy was again, dispatched to my home. My son (9 yrs old at the time) was very upset, crying, and I was trying to calm him down and get him into bed.nSearcy entered my home, in her booming, threatening voice, demanding to know what happened. I explained I was trying to comfort my son, to please give me one second. She came up the stairs, still yelling. This caused my son to become more frightened. She ordered me to come out of his room- which I did, and sat down on the couch 2 steps away from his door where she told me to sit, and I asked if I could please close his door because he was so upset. She yelled “No! You keep that door open! What happened here!!” I asked if it would be alright if we moved to a different location- out of my son’s hearing, so he wouldn’t become anymore upset than he was. Again, she continued to raise her voice even more so, now saying “If you don’t tell me what happened NOW, I’m going to arrest you!” Again, I tried to explained that my son has been through so much and I just didn’t need him to be anymore upset than he already was.” It was then that Searcy grabbed my right arm, roughly pulled me up, threw me up against the outside of my son’s bedroom wall, and arrested me. My son and daughter hearing all of this. As well as my husband.nIt was about 30 degrees outside, snow on the ground. She would not allow me to wear shoes or a jacket as she took me to the police station. (My husband smiling as she walked me out the door).nAs I was walking, she had not tightened her cuff enough on my right wrist, and it had fallen off. She accused me of trying to “break out” of my handcuffs. I told her “no, my hand slipped out because it wasn’t tightened enough.” She said nothing. When we got to her car, she said “You two need to get divorce!”( I was never even allowed to give my side of the story)nI said nothing and was completely silent all the way to the PD. As I always was, and spent the night in the McHenry Country Jail. Again.nIt was because of these experiences that I no longer trusted our PD. I would never call again when my husband, David would hit me.nI believe since Chief Nash arrived, things have changed for the better. It was because of Chief Nash that I was given the strength to file an order of protection against my husband.nVery recently, I had an issue where I thought someone had broken into my home while I was out (which happens often) since I filed for divorce. A Lt. McCorkle was dispatched to my home. I did not recognize him as an officer I had encountered in the past, however he was extremely helpful in educating myself on my rights, safety and that of my children and my home. I am more than thankful for the time he took do this, and simply just make me feel like I had options to make this stop.nThere IS hope for the Oakwood Hills PD now. Give them a chance!

In a tough time they helped with above and beyond compassion and still did their jobs

Very corrupt police station.