Newly promoted John Parnitzke doesn’t mind the nerves.
In fact, the deputy chief of the Palos Heights Police Department sees them as a good sign.
“It’s just knowing that I have a healthy respect for the gravity of the seat I’m in,” he said. “I want to make sure I do it right — for my co-workers, for the city, for all this.”
Parnitzke officially stepped into the role early in April, but his path to leadership was anything but linear. From layoffs early in his career to late-night solo shifts in a six-man department, the Tinley Park resident said each chapter shaped the perspective he brings to Palos Heights — a city he’s grown deeply connected to since joining its force in 2011.
“I’ve been here since 2011,” he said. “And I really think what I went through before makes me appreciate what I have now.”
Originally hired by the Hinsdale Police Department in 2008, Parnitzke was laid off two years later during the economic downturn. With his wife, Colleen, pregnant with their first son at the time, the change hit hard — but it also motivated him. He found temporary work in Elwood and kept testing at departments until Palos Heights opened up.
“That definitely gave me a crazy work ethic,” he said. “Like, nothing’s promised in this field. One minute you could be doing great, and the next, you’re laid off. That just kind of stuck with me.”
Parnitzke joined Palos Heights as a patrol officer and later served as a detective and sergeant. He credits the department’s mentorship and forward-looking mindset for creating space to grow.
“This is a very family-first department. We hold each other to a high standard, but we’re also constantly identifying talent and building each other up,” he said.
“That’s what we want here — people who don’t wear the badge as an ego thing, but who are emotionally intelligent, self-aware, and driven.”
Mentorship played a big role in his own path. One of his biggest influences, he said, was Gerard Wodka, a highly respected detective who later became deputy chief in Willowbrook. Parnitzke filled Wodka’s detective role in Palos Heights — and years later, rose to become assistant commander of the same regional task force Wodka once helped lead.
“That was huge,” Parnitzke said. “We kind of pushed each other throughout our careers. Even now, we still keep each other going.”
Through his work on the South Suburban Major Crimes Task Force — a regional unit activated to help with high-level cases — Parnitzke built relationships with officers across dozens of departments.
“You just start to know who fits the culture we’re building,” he said.
That foundation of accountability, growth and camaraderie is what Parnitzke hopes to continue fostering.
He said he’s especially grateful that this transition doesn’t feel like a shake-up internally.
“This department’s always been really good at forecasting, at knowing who’s next,” he said. “So when people move up, others have already been getting trained and mentored for those roles. I think that’s why it works.”
Still, stepping into administration comes with a shift.
“It’s a little weird to turn off the police work side,” he admitted. “Like not being the one going out on cases anymore — that’s an adjustment.”
One upside? No more middle-of-the-night calls.
“My wife and kids are happy now that I’m not on call anymore,” he said. “I’ve had to leave soccer games, wrestling matches, football — now, hopefully, that won’t happen.”
Parnitzke and Colleen have two sons — one in high school, the other in junior high.
“This really is a family win,” he said. “It’s been great seeing how many peers and friends have reached out. It just means a lot.”
Looking ahead, Parnitzke said he’s excited for the road ahead — even if it comes with a few nerves.
“It’s a healthy respect for the role,” he said. “I just want to make sure I do it right — for my co-workers, for the city, and for the department that’s given me so much.”
