Short shift: McCook’s newest police officer resigns

By Steve Metsch

Much to the surprise of village officials, McCook is looking for a new police officer shortly after hiring one.

That’s because the officer who had been was hired on Nov. 7 has resigned.

Daniel Lorek, 22, submitted his letter of resignation which was effective Dec. 29, Carr told trustees during the village board meeting of Jan. 3.

Police Chief Steve Svetich said Lorek’s resignation caught him completely off guard, given how Lorek had been on the job just a few weeks.

Lorek, of Homer Glen, said after the Nov. 7 meeting that he had worked as a part-time officer in Orland Park and Tinley Park.

Mayor Terrance Carr said after the board meeting that Lorek “came from Tinley Park and wants to go back. We’re not going to hold him back.”

“He came in, talked to us and that was it,” Carr said. “We’ll give him a chance to resign. I told him, ‘When you leave you’re not coming back’.”

Lorek had said that he applied in McCook “because it’s a good town.”

“It’s full-time,” he said on Nov. 7. “That’s the goal, get full-time at a young age. Lot of room for growth. I’m very happy to be here.”

Lorek is a graduate of Lockport Township High School and Joliet Junior College where he studied law enforcement.