Two police departments start year with promotions

Schaumburg and Palatine police departments are beginning 2009 with some significant promotions, as well as a restructuring of Schaumburg's two police chief positions.

Following last week's retirement of Schaumburg's Chief of Staff Dirk Christiansen, Lt. Vince Liberio has been appointed to the department's vacant chief position alongside Chief Brian Howerton.

Unlike most police departments that are headed by one chief who's a sworn police officer, Schaumburg's is led by the civilian position of director, currently former chief Richard Casler.

Below Casler are two police chiefs. These were previously the chief of operations, in charge of patrols and investigations, and the chief of staff.

The new chief positions will be chief of patrol services, in charge of both patrols and community relations, and chief of support services, which now will include investigations.

Liberio will be chief of patrol services while Howerton takes over as chief of support services.

Liberio has been with the department since 1989, most recently serving as afternoon shift bureau commander.

Sgt. Dawn McDermott, who's been with the department since 1995 and most recently served as special investigations bureau supervisor, has been promoted to lieutenant. She will be midnight shift bureau commander.

Officers Vito Rago and Todd Bochenek have both been promoted to the rank of sergeant.

Rago joined the department in 1989 and has served in numerous capacities. He will be patrol supervisor on the afternoon shift.

Bochenek came from the Crystal Lake department to Schaumburg in 1997. He will now be patrol supervisor on the midnight shift, having previously served as a field training officer and police mountain bike program supervisor.

In Palatine, Cmdr. Al Stoeckel was promoted to deputy chief of field operations. He replaces Bob Haas, who left the force Jan. 2 in preparation for his role as chief of the new Inverness police department, which expected to start operating May 1 after breaking off from the Barrington-Inverness Police Department.

Since he was hired as a patrol officer in 1985, Stoeckel has served in a number of supervisor roles, including the last seven years as commander of the Neighborhood Based Policing program.

"He's intelligent and has a good head on his shoulders," said Chief John Koziol, who oversees two deputy chiefs.

Replacing Stoeckel is Patrol Sergeant Craig Lesselyoung, an 18-year veteran with the force. Dave Weeks was promoted to the rank of sergeant.

On Monday, Palatine officials also recognized new officers Thomas Dorn, John Feeney and Christopher Mazzeo.

Koziol said Palatine, unlike most other towns, is able to increase staffing, in part because of cutbacks made in 2003.