Justice names Schuerg deputy police chief

By Carol McGowan

Two police officers moved up in the ranks at last week’s Justice Village Board meeting.

Sgt. Frederick Schuerg was made deputy chief and Officer Samuel Hogancamp was promoted to the rank of sergeant.  Both promotions were approved by the village board last month.

Schuerg has been with the Justice Police Department since December of 1993.

Office Samuel M. Hogancamp is promoted to sergeant by Justice Mayor Kris Wasowicz. (Photo by Carol McGowan)

He started off as a patrol officer, made corporal in 1998, and was promoted to sergeant in 2004 before being named deputy chief last week.

Schuerg has spent his entire law enforcement career with the Justice Police Department.

“I haven’t worked for any other departments,” he said. “I wanted to be a police officer since freshman year of high school.  I tested for many departments after turning 21, and when I got the call from Justice, I took it and haven’t looked back since.”

In other business, the 2023 Scholarship Awards were also presented.

Village scholarships went to Nathaneal Allen, Marissa Allen, Mikolaj Bobak, Drake Mackessy, and Daniel Fournier.

This year’s scholarships presented by the Justice Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 65 were given to Jack Fandrey, Sophia Finke, Jessica Jozwiak, and Aleksandra Wozniak.

A resolution dissolving the Justice Firefighters’ Pension Fund was approved, along with an ordinance amending a prior one that will change fines and penalties for certain traffic offenses and violations.

The village website will undergo an upgrade by Revize Web Services. Trustees also voted to sponsor two holes for the Red & White Course for the Southwest Conference of Mayors Annual Golf Outing.

Trustee Fran Mills reminded everyone that Justice vehicle stickers for 2023 needed to be displayed by July 1.

The board approved a recommendation by the Justice Fire and Police Commission to hire a new police officer as of June 23.

Quite a few licenses were unanimously approved, and include: business licenses for TatiArtHouse LLC, a sewing shop and gift shop at 8015 W. 79th Street, SSS Truck Repair Inc., a truck repair business at 8231 S. 86th Court, and Krisha Enterprise Inc. for a Subway sandwich shop at 8755 W. 79th Street.

Home occupation licenses were approved for: D & M Lawn Services Corp., a home office for landscaping/lawn maintenance at 8008 S. 86th Avenue, Lake Iron Inc., an ornamental iron work business at 8605 S. 78th Court, Dream Home Exteriors Inc., for a roofing construction business at 8849 W. 85th Place, and All Start Platinum Masonry, a masonry business at 7437 Garden Lane.

A resolution was also passed concerning authorization to apply for the Connect Illinois Broadband Grant Program for Phase I of the Village of Justice Smart City Broadband and Fiber Network Infrastructure Project.