Orland Park Police Chief Eric Rossi feels like Miller Huggins.
Huggins was the manager of one of the most fearsome Major League Baseball teams in history.
“It’s like coaching the 1927 Yankees,” Rossi said of leading the Orland Park Police Department. “These guys and gals are amazing – from the dispatchers all the way to the senior staff.”
The village hosted the police’s biannual awards ceremony during the March 2 Committee of the Whole meeting, which included badge pinning and the swearing in of officers and other personnel.
Brian Prestia was named Officer of the Year and telecommunicator Donna Luna was named Civilian of the Year.
Dave O’Connor, chairman of the Fire and Police Commission, said they were honored for “highly credible accomplishment bringing public acclaim to themselves, the department, or to the police profession as a result of training, devotion to duty or service to the public.”
Officers Mallory Janozik, Codey Gestes and Michael Dybalski earned Life Saving awards.
Investigator Miranda Nickel won for Exceptional Service.
Six won the Grand Cordon for “dedication and determination in the arrests of persons responsible for numerous criminal acts throughout the area,” according to O’Connor.
Those honored for that were Sgt. Casey Wall, Investigator Daniel Livingston plus officers Patrick Gallagher, Thomas Healy, Michael Rafferty and Jan Krzystyniak.
There were several police personnel who were sworn in at the meeting.
That list included Commander Jason Ford, Lt. Timothy O’Connell, Lt. Davis Staszak, Sgt. Nikolas Eyer, Sgt. Shawn Walsh and Henry Schoonveld.
Also sworn in were new officers Kyle Jachim, Joseph Hyzynski and Jordan Tomlinson.
O’Connor was happy to present the awards.
“There is no doubt that we have an extraordinary department in this community,” O’Connor said. “Our community functions, in large part, based upon their extraordinary valor and professionalism that they exhibit on a daily basis.
“We are truly blessed to have a department of officers this committed and this professional at every single turn.”