CHICAGO HEIGHTS | The Cook County Sheriff's Department has found a new way to make a positive impact in the community.

Since July 7, members of the department have volunteered their time to Habitat for Humanity of the Chicago South Suburbs, as three new homes are being constructed on East 16th Street.

Almost 90 volunteers from the department are expected to have contributed by the end of September.

"It's all about giving back to the community," said Penny Mateck, department spokeswoman. "A lot of times, the only time the public sees police are when there's something bad going on."

Mateck said the decision to help came when Sheriff Tom Dart began asking employees in December for volunteer ideas for the department.

On Saturday, department volunteers worked from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the installation of windows and other tasks.

Mateck explained why the department chose this area of the county for its first Habitat endeavor.

"We work very closely with the Chicago Heights Police Department and a lot of different police departments in the south suburbs on a mutual aid effort, so we thought this would be a good place to start," she said.

Construction supervisor Bob Gastreich said the three-bedroom, one-level homes at 197, 203 and 215 E. 16th St. are scheduled to be completed by November.

He said the project, funded by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, "is part of a revitalization for Chicago Heights."

Deputy Sheriff Pete Anzaldua was one of those who volunteered Saturday morning, as he assisted in cutting wood to support joists and beams.

"There's different levels of helping out the community which we do on a daily basis," Anzaldua said. "Here we just happen to be out of uniform and out of our facility to help out the public."

The home at 203 E. 16th St. will be inhabited by Shelley Bernaugh and her five children.

Bernaugh worked along with the sheriff's employees Saturday and expressed her gratitude for the effort.

"I just think it's fantastic that everyone's so willing to help," she said.

"They're not just the bad guys as everyone likes to label them all the time."