Lombard promotes three cops, sends off longtime police dog

Three cops stepped up the ranks and one police dog stepped down Thursday as Lombard police hosted a celebration of their service.

The department promoted its first woman to the rank of deputy chief, as Cyndy Velazquez stepped into the role to fill a vacancy left by the promotion last September of Roy Newton to chief.

Velazquez's promotion created a chain of opportunity for two more police leaders to step up, Newton said. John Malatia was promoted to lieutenant and Jason Chudzinski was promoted to sergeant.

All are capable leaders with valuable experience in the department, Newton said.

Velazquez is "a well-seasoned veteran of our agency" after 28 years on the force, holding roles including patrol officer, detective, accreditation manager, sergeant, lieutenant and detective lieutenant, Newton said.

Malatia also has been with the department for about 28 years and Chudzinski for 10.

"We're certainly excited to be able to make promotions and increase our command staff and keep moving us forward," Newton said.

While police celebrated their promotions, they also said goodbye to an eight-year member of the force, their police dog Chico.

Chico, a German shepherd, had been working with Officer Greg Sohr until his age got the best of him and he officially retired Feb. 1, Sohr said. The dog, extensively trained in sniffing out drugs, searching for missing people and tracking down items, is no longer at 100-percent strength physically, so it was time for him to retire. In his career, Chico helped make 270 drug-related arrests and recover $5 million in cash and assets.

"He still has the brain for it and he still has the nose for it, but the paws," Sohr said, "just won't tolerate it any more."

Before Chico even began working with Sohr, the officer and the village signed an agreement, promising he'd be able to buy his patrol partner for $1.

But a strangely phrased procedural move had to gain village approval first. And on Thursday night it, did.

Village board members had to declare Chico "surplus property," to signal he is no longer needed as a village asset and is ready to spend his golden years at Sohr's Kane County home with the officer's other two pet dogs.

Newton said the "surplus property" declaration was a necessity in village financial procedures and an oddity to those uninitiated with municipal maneuverings.

"We knew it would create some humor," he said.

With Chico as a pet instead of a patrol companion, Sohr will return to normal patrol duties. A different officer will be chosen later this spring, when the department brings on board its next police dog, likely in April.

The department is using a $3,000 grant from participants of its citizens police academy along with an $11,500 grant from the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation to buy its next patrol dog, pay for initial training and support some of the dog's food, toys and daily needs.

Newton said the Roethlisberger Foundation grant was available because the charity gives funding to organizations in each city where the Steelers quarterback plays a game, and Pittsburgh faced the Bears at Soldier Field last September.

When the next job joins the Lilac Village force, Newton said he hopes the canine will bring the same friendly yet skilled characteristics as Chico.

"In our community," Newton said, "we find we (should) have a great dog that can be the police, but at the same time be a great, friendly lick-your-face dog."

Lombard fire promotions

Lombard Fire Department recently promoted three officials and welcomed two new members.

Promotions:

Deputy Chief Ray Kickert

Battalion Chief Brian A. Stuart

Lieutenant Jeff Abruzino

New hires:

Firefighter/paramedic Blake Talip

Firefighter/paramedic Steven Kemnetz