The Palos Heights Police Department won the Elevate Blue Scholarship following a competitive national voting campaign, securing advanced leadership training for its command staff through the Northwestern University Center for Public Safety.
The department was officially notified of the win by the Elevate Blue Scholarship Committee, capping a public voting process that placed law enforcement agencies from across the country in competition for the award.
Deputy Chief John Parnitzke said the opportunity reinforced the department’s ongoing commitment to professional development.
“We have a long tradition of sending our command staff to the prestigious Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command,” Parnitzke said. “This voucher would cover the cost of this training.”
Officials noted the Palos Heights Police Department was the only local law enforcement agency among the finalists, adding significance to the victory for the community. The scholarship supports advanced instruction in leadership, organizational management, ethics, policy development and modern policing strategies through the Northwestern University Center for Public Safety.
The center is widely known for its executive-level law enforcement programs, including the School of Police Staff and Command, which prepares officers for senior leadership roles.
In a Facebook post, the department confirmed the win after receiving word from the Elevate Blue Scholarship Committee.
“We are excited to share that we received the call this morning from the Elevate Blue Scholarship Committee — Palos Heights PD won!” the department said in the post. “We cannot thank all of you enough for your support and efforts throughout this campaign. This was truly a team effort. We were competing against several much larger municipalities, and accomplishing this was no small feat. Thank you all again for helping bring this opportunity home to Palos Heights.”
With the scholarship secured, the department prepared to move forward in the program, crediting strong community support for helping deliver the victory.