Employment
2023-Present Deputy Chief of Police
I was selected as Deputy Chief of Police in February 2023. This is a highly responsible position which includes the responsibility of directly assisting the Chief of Police to direct operational and administrative activities of the Department by performing administrative, technical, and supervisory tasks. I supervise all operations of the Department and provide leadership and direction to our Department objectives. I assume responsibility for the Department in the Chief’s absence, and I am the first senior command officer of the Department.
Job duties include reviewing of activity reports prepared by subordinate officers, conducting on-site inspection of officers’ activities and providing supervision and direction to subordinate officers through departmental chain of command. I also review personnel complaints, conduct internal investigations and take appropriate action as required. I also coordinate department functions internally and with other local departments, law enforcement agencies and with the business and residential community. I perform as a liaison for the Chief of Police and the Village Board, court officers and the office of the district attorney in connection with policies, procedures and criminal cases. I supervise operations and functions related to the communication center, information management, youth services, animal control, issuance of licenses and permits and auditing of evidence storage. I oversee and participate in the investigation of criminal law violations within the department’s jurisdiction and obtain evidence, compile information, prepare cases for filing of charges, and testify in court. I participate in development of departmental policies and draft special orders for review and approval by the Police Chief. I assist in the development of the annual departmental operating budget. I also serve as one of the Public Information Officers.
2018-2023 Patrol Commander
I was selected as Patrol Commander in October 2018. This is a highly responsible position which includes the responsibility of assisting the Chief of Police direct the operational activities of the Department by performing technical, supervisory, and administrative tasks. I was in command of all patrol activities. I served at the discretion of the Chief of Police, and I was the second senior commanding officer in the absence of the Chief of Police.
Job duties included supervising, evaluating, training, counseling, coordinating, controlling, and directing work of individuals assigned to Patrol in the performance of their duties. I oversaw services, activities, and personnel task/assignments within Patrol. I approved certain expenditures and purchases in support of the operations of the police department. Additionally, I supervised the performance of subordinate supervisors to guarantee efficient performance of their managerial duties and assignments. I ensured performance standards and cost-efficient assignment of personnel, as well as meeting general department goals and objectives in providing professional services to the general community.
I was responsible for direct support of the subordinate supervisors and assisted in the development and annual oversight of the department budget to meet annual goals and objectives in fiscal management and assisted in identifying and applying for grant opportunities.
In the role, I recommended discipline, within the terms of the applicable labor agreements and law, of individuals in the department. I received, reviewed, and evaluated reports of civilian complaints about individual officers. I assisted with personnel investigations of individuals in the department. I assisted with reviews, research, and evaluation of proposals presented by collective bargaining units, and participated in the collective bargaining and/or grievance process.
I also assisted with providing a proactive planning and management approach to the operational services provided to the community of River Forest and in identifying the future law enforcement needs of the community. I was responsible for maintaining efficient and fiscally responsible cross training and management duties within the ranks of the subordinate supervisors. I also ensured that all policies, procedures, rules, and regulations of the River Forest Police Department were known and adhered to by the personnel assigned to the Patrol division and identified, formulated and implemented rules, regulations, policies, and procedures which increased the efficiency and effectiveness of the various Divisions of the Police Department. I also maintained close liaison with the county prosecutor’s office on important individual cases, prosecutions, and case development standards.
2015-2018 Detective Sergeant
I was selected as Detective Sergeant in September 2015. I was excited to return to the Detective Unit to learn new things and work with a new team. The tradition of great customer service, hard work, and creative problem solving were important to me and I worked with people that shared the same vision. I supervised complex investigations and scenes and other officers and investigators. I was responsible for case management, tracking, report review, as well as administrative duties such as monthly reports. I investigated cases and complete follow-ups and arrests on my own and with other investigators and officers. I also oversaw the Evidence and Property Room, Vehicle Reclamation, Asset Forfeiture and Seizure cases, and Department Auctions.
I was also tasked with Crime Analysis to assist in directing officers to areas that have been targeted by criminals to reduce and eliminate offenses in the area. The bulletins created were distributed to personnel to offer insight into specific times of day or items targeted by the criminals.
Community engagement is an important function of law enforcement. I was fortunate to be asked to speak at meetings with the public to discuss current crime trends and safety tips.
I was certified as a Lead Homicide Investigator, Firearms Instructor, and Taser Instructor while in this position. I worked with fellow officers on the range for qualifications and trained the majority of the Department as a Taser Instructor as of 2017. I maintained certifications in other areas and actively trained officers and citizens in those disciplines as well.
I attended the Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command from January-May 2018. My forty-six classmates honored me at the graduation ceremony when they selected me as the Franklin Kreml Leadership Award recipient. The Kreml Award is presented to the class member that demonstrates “dedication, devotion, ethics and sense of justice that exemplifies the kind of leadership that is needed in today’s law enforcement community”. I was truly grateful and will continue to strive to demonstrate the characteristics this award represents.
2013-2015 Patrol Sergeant
I was assigned to the Midnight Shift in May 2013 upon promotion and served as the Sergeant on Midnight through 2015. I was responsible for supervision of five patrol officers on the shift. Some of my duties included report review, performance appraisals, various personnel matters, as well as law enforcement duties. The Midnight Shift was consistently the most productive shift in the Department under my supervision.
In 2013, I was assigned the position of Training Officer for the Department. I worked closely with the Commander and Deputy Chief on course selection and scheduling. I was also responsible for creating or facilitating Roll Call and In-service training as well as coordinating training with other law enforcement partners. I am tasked with ensuring that all programming and expenses remain within the budget for the Department. I have remained the Training Officer since and enjoy discovering new and innovative learning opportunities for Department members.
I was also selected as Field Training Supervisor in 2013. The entire Field Training program was updated, and the system was implemented with a team effort among the Field Training Officers. I was responsible for initial onboarding of all new recruits from October 2013 through March 2016. I still assist in this capacity at this time. My main objectives were to provide a safe, positive learning environment for new recruits and their Field Training Officers and to ensure high quality on-the-job training was delivered. I monitored the progress of recruits, provided counseling when needed, and made employment recommendations based on the job performance of the recruits.
2009-2013 Patrol Officer/Officer-in-Charge
I was assigned as a Patrol Officer from May 2009 through May 2013. As senior officer on the shift, I often served as Officer-in-Charge when the Sergeant was not scheduled to work. While the Sergeant on the shift was in extended, long-term training, I was offered the opportunity to complete assignments such as Monthly Reports and Shift Initiatives, which were only entrusted to Sergeants at the time. I was honored to perform the assignments and enjoyed the insight into supervision of police personnel and the chance to learn new concepts.
During the four-year period, I earned several certifications including Truck Enforcement Officer, Child Passenger Safety Technician, R.A.D. (Rape Aggression Defense) Instructor, Rapid Deployment and MACTAC Instructor. I have continued working in all of these areas as an instructor until the present.
2000-2009 Detective
I was selected to serve in the Detective Unit in May 2000. The position offered the opportunity for hard work and creative thinking. I received advanced training including John Reid Interview and Interrogations and Homicide Investigations courses. During my assignment to investigations, I was responsible for case follow-up with the witnesses and victims in all types of cases from ordinance violations to homicides. The assignment afforded me the opportunity to develop time management skills, prioritization, and teamwork. I investigated hundreds of cases while assigned to the Detective Unit and had a high arrest and clearance rate.
One of the duties assigned to the Detective Unit was of Evidence and Property Manager. I recognized a need for an updated process while working on an old system of paper and pen records. In 2005, I identified an innovative, automated system that would benefit the Department, officers and all people involved. I oversaw the implementation of the BEAST system, including hardware and software installation. I was also responsible for training the Department on the use and integration of the system to full use.
I was also assigned to the West Suburban Major Crimes Task Force (WESTAF) as an Investigator at its inception in 2002. WESTAF was a mutual aid system developed to provide member agencies additional resources and investigators to assist in serious crimes such as homicide and kidnapping. I worked closely with other investigators while we successfully completed complex investigations with great success in arrests and successful prosecutions. The WESTAF Commander selected me as an Administrative Lead due to my technical proficiency, organization and report writing skills. I was selected by the WESTAF Board, comprised of the Police Chiefs of the member agencies, as Operations Supervisor in 2007. The position was the second to the Commander of the group. The assignment led to opportunities for team development, case review with other task forces, and professional growth. I served as Operations Supervisor until May 2009. During my time on WESTAF, I was assigned and played key roles in over thirty homicide investigations.
1997-2000 Patrol Officer
I began my career in January 1997 as a recruit at the Cook County Sheriff’s Police Metro Academy and successfully completed Academy in March 1997. I successfully completed Field Training and was assigned as Patrol Officer. I enjoyed the job and was recognized by supervisors and peers as a hardworking, intelligent young officer. Department members and the Fraternal Order of Police selected me as Officer of the Year for 1999, with less than three years on the Department. I was greatly appreciative and honored by the selection. I received training as a Juvenile Officer, Evidence Technician, and Breathalyzer Operator.