advertisement

Mt. Prospect ushers in new police leadership

The Mount Prospect Village Board ushered in a new era of law enforcement this week.

A standing-room-only crowd in village board chambers watched Tuesday as new Police Chief Tim Janowick and his leadership team took their oaths of office. Sworn in along with Janowick were Deputy Chief Michael Eterno, Deputy Chief Timothy Griffin, Cmdr. Edward Szmergalski, Sgt. Anthony Lietzow and Sgt. Bart Tweedie.

"In my heart, I place my trust and full faith in this new team," Mayor Arlene Juracek said. "I think we have the finest police department around."

The ceremony began with the Bagpipes & Drums of the Emerald Society of the Chicago Police Department and ended with Janowick and his team posing for photographs beside a police car parked on the sidewalk in front of village hall.

Following the swearing in, during which Janowick's children, Greg and Bridgitte, pinned on his stars, the new chief addressed the village board. He cited his commitment to the police department's motto - "With courage we protect. With compassion we serve" - and its core values of bravery, compassion, competence, dedication, integrity and professionalism.

"I am appreciative of the fact that I get to work with 103 people every day that embrace those values, that embrace that motto," he said.

But Janowick said he also is committed to change.

"We can sit on our boat and leave the sails down and go nowhere or raise the sails and see where change takes us," he said.

He later elaborated on what he means by change. For one thing, he said, it means embracing technology. It also means keeping up with the needs of a changing community, he said.

Other challenges facing the department, and law enforcement in general, include the decline in applicants for police officer jobs and pension changes that could make it more difficult to retain officers for longer periods of time.

Janowick thanked a host of peers and mentors for helping him along the way, including former Mount Prospect police chiefs Richard Eddington and Michael Semkiu. Semkiu, Janowick's predecessor, attended Tuesday's ceremony.

He also thanked former Bloomingdale Deputy Chief Chuck Mader for inspiring him to "start thinking with a bigger vision," Buffalo Grove police Cmdr. Roy Bethge and Deerfield police Master Patrolman Mike Scarry.

"Without (Scarry) I probably would not be standing here today," Janowick said. "(He) stopped me and wrote me my first ticket on a bicycle. Along the way, we developed a friendship and he became my mentor."

Article Comments
Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.