Lisle names new police chief

Longtime Lisle police officer James Kosatka said he was “very honored” Friday to be chosen the village's next chief.

Kosatka, who has been on the force for 31 years, has served as deputy police chief since 2002. He has been acting chief since Michael Damico retired last month.

The appointment is pending approval of the village board Jan. 17, Mayor Joe Broda said. Kosatka is expected to be sworn in as chief that same evening.

“After this week's interview there was no doubt in our mind what we were going to do, so we decided to make the announcement before Jan. 17 since we knew word would get out,” Broda said.

During his tenure, Kosatka has worked up the ranks from officer to patrol sergeant and then detective sergeant before assuming his role as deputy chief. He received his bachelor's degree in business management from Benedictine University in 2007.

Broda said Kosatka's long service and operations knowledge makes him an ideal choice.

“He's been with the department for many, many years and one thing that stands out is that he has basically worked and supervised in every aspect of the department,” Broda said.

Kosatka also is known for promoting the concepts of continuing education, physical fitness and cross training between internal departments to keep officers well-rounded and engaged in their jobs, the mayor said.

Kosatka said he tries to lead by example.

“How am I going to ask people to be a certain way if I don't embody that too?” he said. “I am about treating people the way you want to be treated.”

Kosatka said he will stress the need for the department to remain service-oriented.

“It's about serving the public to the highest degree,” he said.