When Bill Feithen was chosen to be DeKalb’s newest police chief back in July 2000, he wanted to make some changes.

Feithen said he would evaluate the needs of the department and the community, potentially improving police technology equipment.

Nearly 18 months later, Feithen is on his way to further improving a department he already feels works very well.

One thing Feithen has focused on is alcohol arrests.

“Being in a university town, there are a lot of alcohol-related problems,” Feithen said. The force is doing a good job taking care of problems, but improvement is always good so things don’t get out of control, he added.

The consumption of alcohol increases the amount of fights, thefts and criminal damage reports, Feithen said. Most of the arrests DeKalb officers make are DUIs and underage drinking.

But the department is trying to tackle these local issues.

Bringing in extra officers to increase traffic patrol is one thing, Feithen said, and installing moving radar in squad cars is another.

Adding moving radar allows officers to catch a speeding motorist, regardless of where a squad car may be in relation to the offender. This helps to get potential drunk drivers off the road, Feithen said.

The department also is increasing its technology by installing video cameras in squad cars.

When Feithen took over as DeKalb’s top cop, the department had only one camera. They have since added two more and should have three more within the next year.

“They help ensure that a defendant will plead guilty because the evidence is right there … it’s not just the officer’s word,” he added.

To cut down on underage drinking, the department is tackling key spots: bars and parties.

Feithen knows first-hand that students who get in trouble for underage drinking don’t like being caught.

“What students fail to realize is that we need to maintain a certain level of enforcement,” Feithen said. He added that too many incidents have occurred in the past involving unnecessary alcohol deaths, referring to the September 2000 deaths of Nicole Murawski and Brian White, in separate accidents.

In the future, Feithen hopes the department continues to advance.

“I think we’re doing the best we can, considering everything else we have to deal with and all the resources available,” he said.