April 13, 2023

Detective Todd Gross wins first ILACP Investigator of the Year Award

Oak Lawn Police Detective Todd Gross is the winner of the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police (ILACP) inaugural Investigator of the Year Award. The award recognizes those detectives or investigators who are often not publicly recognized for solving cases yet are important in the investigation of all types of cases.

Detective Gross’s hard work during 2022 led to several high-profile arrests and detailed investigations. Det. Gross was busy in 2022, being assigned 134 cases. He persevered and ended up leading the Oak Lawn Police Department in felony arrests with 65. Some of the high-profile cases Det. Gross tackled cases including a home invasion where an elderly resident was battered, and cash and documents were taken from the home. After an investigation lasting multiple months, three arrests were made, and another is pending. Another case was a first degree murder in which a father slammed his child onto the ground numerous times. Det. Gross interviewed the father at length and eventually the father admitted to the crime.

Det. Gross also showed great determination when arrested an offender for aggravated battery with a firearm as a result of a road rage incident. The offender was discovered to have fled the country and Det. Gross was able to obtain an arrest warrant for him. When the offender returned, Det. Gross coordinated with Customs and Border Patrol at O'Hare Airport to detain the offender.

“Det. Gross is always willing to take the lead in bigger cases and has the full trust of his supervisors when he does,” wrote Oak Lawn Police Chief Daniel Vittorio.

His investigation skills did not go completely unnoticed as in 2022, Det. Gross won the VFW Officer of the Year award. Chief Vittorio says he has seen Det. Gross become one of the more seasoned and experienced detectives in the department since starting in 2013. In 2019, he was appointed to the Detective Division.

Since joining the Oak Lawn Police Department, Det. Gross has served as a D.A.R.E. instructor and field training officer. Det. Gross also serves as a member of the South Suburban Major Crimes Task Force. Prior to a career in law enforcement, Detective Gross obtained a bachelor’s degree from Northern Illinois University and then served on active duty with the United States Army, obtaining the rank of Captain. He is a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Detective Gross is married and has three children. 

The Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police would like to congratulate Detective Todd Gross for his incredible achievements in 2022 and looks forward to his continued success.

Detective Gross will receive the Criminal Investigator of the Year Award at the ILACP Annual Awards Banquet on April 21, 2023 in Lombard, Illinois.