It shall be the policy of the Harwood Heights Police Department to comply with the "Bad Check Restitution Program" established and implemented by the Cook County State's Attorney as it relates to merchants and businesses within the jurisdiction of Harwood Heights: 

• Defintion of eligible checks: the amount of the check is no more than $5,000.00 (or multiple checks do not exceed this limit); there are no minimal dollar restrictions; the check was received in the County of Cook, deposited in a bank in exchange for goods or services and was presumed good at the time of acceptance; a "courtesy notice" will be sent to the check writer (registered return receipt) to the check writer from the merchant or business; allowing ten days to make the check good; the check is submitted to the program within ninety days from the date of the check; a photo identification was recorded at the transaction;
• Definition of ineligible checks: it is post dated; both parties knew that there were insufficient funds at the time of the transaction; it is a two party, government, stop-payment or payroll check; the identity of the check writer is unknown; there is no amount, date, or signature on the check; the bank has not processed the check twice with at least seven days between each processing; the numeric and written amounts on the check do not match; the check involves an "extension of credit" or was payment on an account;
• If a merchant or business comes into the police station or an officer is sent and the check meets the "eligible" requirement, the officer will: document the incident; photocopy the check or checks in question and any accompanying documents; and supply the merchant or business with a "Bad Check Crime Report Form" which; has to be filled out (following the necessary instructions) by the merchant or business; once completed it is sent to the Cook County State's Attorney. 

If you have any further questions please contact the Harwood Heights Police Department Detective Division at (708) 867-4353 or 4343. 

The Cook County Department of Public Health has begun collecting and submitting birds for West Nile Virus testing for the 2008 season. As in past years, if the municipality was not able to collect and hold the bird for pickup, residents calling to report a dead bird will be instructed to call the Cook County Department of Public Health at 708-492-2650. Just a reminder, birds submitted for testing must meet the following criteria:

• Perching birds are the only birds being collected (Crows, Blue Jays, Grackles, Robins, Cardinals, Sparrows, Starlings, Finch).
• Crows must be at least 12" long.
• Birds cannot be dead longer than 24 hours and must be in good condition (no signs of attack, decay or road kill).
• If the bird is collected by the municipality and held for the next day pickup; the bird will be forzen and a copy of the 2008 dead bird submission form will accompany each bird submitted.

In an effort to track the distribution of West Nile, the Cook County Department of Public Health will also be documenting reports of all dead birds or animals. Residents calling to report a dead bird or animal that is not a crow or blue jay can do so via their website www.cookcountypublichealth.org. Go to Programs and Services and click on Environmental Health-West Nile Virus. Those without internet access can make a report by calling 708-492-2650. As we do each year, we ask our residents to assist in eliminating areas of standing water around or near your residence and we encouage residents to survey their homes for torn window screens and potential areas of standing water, including clogged gutters.