By Karen Haave
Peotone has a new police chief, and residents there might want to know a couple interesting things about him.
First, if you ask him, Chief David DeMik will give you his personal cell phone number. That comes with a droll warning, though, that if you call him at 2 o’clock in the morning, “You might get my wife, and she might not be as nice as I am at 2 o’clock in the morning.”
Also, be watchful out there, because he will be pulling speeders over and issuing tickets.
“Well, maybe not giving tickets. Maybe just a warning,” he grins.
In other words, he will be a working police officer as much as a department chief.
At the same time, DeMik is a two-time recipient of the South Suburban Chief Association’s Award for Medal of Valor, a PhD candidate, and a career law enforcement officer with 30 years experience in the field.
He comes to Peotone from his job as chief of police for the Village of Riverdale, a department much larger in terms of both budget and staff.
But that’s okay. He’s very happy in Peotone.
“The community is great,” he enthused. “The administration has been super helpful.”
DeMik actually was familiar with the village long before he was named chief, “driving through it all the time.”
He made his first real connection last summer when he entered his 1968 Mustang Cobra Jet in the Peotone Car Club show. Little did he know that connection was about to grow deeper.
“I just did 30 years in law enforcement and retired, so I was looking for a new home,” he said.
Fifty-one years old and only retired for four days, he found his new home in Peotone.
Hoping for “at least another 10 years” as a cop, his first goal is to “improve relations between police officers and the community,” although he is quick to note he hasn’t seen any serious issues there.
His second goal is to “improve training and equipment” for his officers. With help from the village administrator, he is optimistic grant funding can be found to help defray costs.
Peotone’s new chief started as a reserve officer and volunteer in 1992. In 1998 he became a full-time police officer and by 2008 had earned the rank of sergeant. In addition, he served as K-9 officer, as well as collective bargaining steward and liaison between patrol officers and the chief.
Also during that time, he researched and created a Truck/Traffic Enforcement unit and developed and managed equipment and training grants.
Among his accomplishments as Riverdale’s Police Chief, he developed and administered a $4.8 million budget, designed and implemented a Tri-town Task Force for Riverdale, Dolton, and South Holland, focusing on specific community issues.
DeMik’s own professional training includes the White House 21st Century Policing Seminar as Illinois’ delegate in 2016, as well as six programs, including internal affairs investigations, prevention of sexual harassment, and community relations.
In addition to the SSCA Medal of Valor, he also is the recipient of the Cook County Sheriff’s Meritorious Award and the Mothers Against Drunk Drivers award from 1999 through 2008.
He is a member of the International, Illinois, and South Suburban Associations of Chiefs of Police, the National Society of Leadership and Success, and the Northwestern University Staff and Command Alumni Association.
He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Law Enforcement from Calumet College of St. Joseph, along with a Master of Science in Public Administration, Cum Laude. He is writing his dissertation for his doctorate in PPA law and Public Policy and hopes to complete it later this year or in 2024.
DeMik and his wife, Agnieszka, have one son, Jakub, who is 23 and serving in the Air Force.
“I am very approachable to both the community and to the officers who I work with,” he said. “Expect to see me on calls, traffic stops, and all around the village.”
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