Prospect Heights Police Department announces promotions

The Prospect Heights Police Department will swear in a police chief, deputy chief and two sergeants at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 11, at the Prospect Heights Park District Gary Morava Center located at 110 W. Camp McDonald Road in Prospect Heights, the department announced Wednesday in a news release. All of the promotions are internal.

As was previously announced, Deputy Chief Al Steffen was named chief, replacing Jamie Dunne, who took the same job in Wheeling. Steffen was part of the original force when the department was established in 1990 and served as interim chief on several occasions. He was one of the original investigators on the Northwest Suburban Major Case Assistance Team's major crimes task force. He is an Army veteran.

Sgt. Jim Zawlocki will be sworn in as deputy chief. He currently serves as patrol sergeant and has also served as team leader for the Major Case Assistance Team's Serious Traffic Accident Reconstruction Unit. He was a police officer in Woodstock before joining the Prospect Heights department at its inception.

Cpl. Michael Stone, another officer who has been with the department from the beginning, is being promoted to sergeant. He has served as a Team Leader with the Northern Illinois Police Alarm System (NIPAS) Emergency Response Team. He previously served as a community service officer with the Buffalo Grove Police Department.

Cpl. Todd Godair will also be promoted to sergeant. He joined the department in 1997 after six years in the Marine Corps and recently was promoted from investigator. He has served as the department's Defensive Tactics and Firearms Instructor.

Godair will fill the position left by the Jan. 2 retirement of Sgt. Joseph D. Pawlicki, who worked in law enforcement 29 years, joining the Prospect Heights department at its beginning after serving with the Chicago Police Department. He filled many administrative roles and was instrumental in overhauling the hiring process, leading to a reduction of testing costs, Steffen said in a news release.

“Sgt. Joe Pawlicki has been a great officer and a good friend,” Steffen said. “He was one of our originals and we wish him nothing but the best.”