Section 310 ILCS 10/8.1a - Police powers(a) A Housing Authority in any municipality having over 500,000 inhabitants has power to police its property and to exercise police powers for the protection of the persons and property of its residents, employees and visitors, for the enforcement of any rule or regulation adopted by the Authority, and in furtherance of the purposes for which such Authority was organized. In particular, and subject to amounts appropriated for that purpose, the Housing Authority in exercising its police powers shall strive to eliminate or reduce the following activities within the property or facilities of the Authority: streetgang-related activities (as defined in the Illinois Streetgang Terrorism Omnibus Prevention Act), illegal activities involving controlled substances (as defined in the Illinois Controlled Substances Act), illegal activities involving cannabis (as defined in the Cannabis Control Act), illegal activities involving methamphetamine (as defined in the Methamphetamine Control and Community Protection Act), and illegal activities involving firearms. Such Authority has power to establish, appoint and support a police force for such purposes. (b) A Housing Authority in a municipality having 500,000 or fewer inhabitants may establish, appoint, and support a police force to police the Authority's property, to protect the persons and property of the Authority's residents, employees, and visitors, to enforce the Authority's adopted rules and regulations, and to otherwise further the purposes for which the Authority was organized. A police force may be established under this subsection only with the approval of the mayor or president of the municipality and only if, in the opinion of the Authority and the mayor or president, the severity of streetgang-related activities (as defined in the Illinois Streetgang Terrorism Omnibus Prevention Act), illegal activities involving controlled substances (as defined in the Illinois Controlled Substances Act), illegal activities involving cannabis (as defined in the Cannabis Control Act), illegal activities involving methamphetamine (as defined in the Methamphetamine Control and Community Protection Act), or illegal activities involving firearms makes the establishment of a police force desirable. (c) Members of a Housing Authority police force shall be conservators of the peace and shall have all powers possessed by the police of cities, and sheriffs, including the power to make arrests for violations of federal and state statutes, city and county ordinances, and rules and regulations of the Authority and governing federal agencies; provided, that they may exercise such powers only within the property or facilities of such Authority, and only (i) when such exercise is appropriate for the protection of Authority properties and interests, or its residents, employees and visitors, or (ii) otherwise, within the municipality in which the Authority operates, when specifically requested by appropriate federal, state and local law enforcement officials. Unless expressly limited by the Authority, when outside the property or facilities of the Authority, the members of the police force shall have the same powers as those conferred on the police of organized cities and villages when acting outside of the territorial limits of their city or village. "Property or facilities of the Authority" means property owned or leased by the Authority and property over which the Authority has easement rights. The Authority shall establish minimum standards for selection and training of members of such police force, provided that the members of such police force shall be certified and trained under the provisions of the Illinois Police Training Act, as now or hereafter amended. The members of such police force may serve and execute civil process. The establishment of such a police force shall not affect the power of the Authority to use or employ other security personnel as permitted by law. Neither the Authority, the members of its Board nor its officers or employees shall be held liable for failure to provide a security or police force or, if a security or police force is provided, for failure to provide adequate police protection or security, failure to prevent the commission of crimes or failure to apprehend criminals.Amended by P.A. 094-0556, § 1015, eff. 9/11/2005.P.A. 89-351, eff. 1-1-96.