The Elk Grove Village Police Department has promoted Deputy Chief Charles Walsh to Chief of Police.

Deerfield

Park Dist. tabs Nehila as new Executive Director

The Deerfield Park District reported that the Board of Park Commissioners named Jeff Nehila to the position of Executive Director. Nehila will replace Rick Julison, who will retire at the end of the year after 27 years with the Park District, including five years as Executive Director. Nehila, Executive Director of the Grayslake Community Park District for the last six years, previously served in the same position with the Round Lake Area Park District for eight years. He also held Parks and Recreation positions in Ohio, Maryland, Wisconsin and Germany. Nehila earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Management from the University of Maryland and a master’s degree in Recreation Management from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. For more information, call (847) 945-0650 or visit www.deerfieldparks.org.

Tinley Park

Pair of police officers earn international accreditation

The village announced that Bryan Bishop and Laura Sanchez recently became the first two Tinley Park police officers to be accredited through the internationally recognized Accreditation Commission for Traffic Accident Reconstruction (ACTAR). To become ACTAR-accredited, candidates must apply to the commission and be deemed eligible to sit for an accreditation examination based on their unique combination of knowledge, training and experience. The examination addresses theory, mathematics and a practical accident reconstruction analysis. The weight of this accreditation credential can make it easier for an investigator to establish his or her suitability to present expert witness testimony in the legal system. To maintain their accreditation, Bishop and Sanchez will be required to accrue a minimum of 80 continuing education units for each subsequent five-year accreditation period. For more information, call (708) 444-5000 or visit www.tinleypark.org.

Elk Grove Village

Police Dept. promotes Walsh to Chief of Police

The village reported that the Elk Grove Village Police Department has promoted Deputy Chief Charles Walsh to Chief of Police. Walsh, who began his career with the Police Department as a patrol officer in 1991, also has served as a community policing officer, field training officer, field evidence technician, planning and research officer, and crime prevention officer. In 2002, Walsh was promoted to Sergeant and served the midnight patrol shift. In 2006, he was assigned as Court Sergeant and provided supervision for Elk Grove police officers attending DuPage and Cook County courts. Walsh was promoted to Commander in 2007, and became Deputy Chief in 2011. Walsh graduated from Benedictine University with a Master of Science of Organizational Development degree, and also received a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from the University of Illinois-Chicago. Prior to joining the Elk Grove Village Police Department, Walsh served in the United States Air Force. For more information, call (847) 439-3900 or visit www.elkgrove.com.

Melrose Park

Local healthcare firm announces major expansion

The village reported that Fresenius Kabi, a global healthcare company that specializes in pharmaceuticals and medical devices used to care for critically and chronically ill patients inside and outside the hospital, announced that it will invest approximately $250 million over the next 10 years to expand the company’s Melrose Park facility, located at 2020 N. Ruby Street. The company plans to create a state-of-the-art pharmaceutical manufacturing campus at the site. The expansion will include multiple new buildings connected to the existing manufacturing site, and will feature fully automated aseptic filling lines (using state-of-the-art isolator technology), expanded lyophilization (freeze-drying) capabilities, formulation areas, a warehouse for raw materials and components, and an administration building with a conference center, laboratories, office space and a cafeteria. Groundbreaking is planned for 2017, with final project completion expected in 2026. For more information, call (708) 343-4000 or visit www.melrosepark.org.

Hoffman Estates

Police Dept. offers annual Citizen Police Academy

The village announced that the Hoffman Estates Police Department is accepting applications for its 27th annual Citizen Police Academy. Topics to be covered include home security, SWAT operations, crime scene investigations, club drugs, police K-9s and more. In addition, participants will get hands-on experience with real police equipment, including squad cars, jail cells and duty gear. An orientation will be held from 6:30-9:30 p.m. Jan. 10, 2017 in the training room of the Police Department, 411 W. Higgins Road. Classes will then meet for 15 weeks from 6:30-9:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, through April 18. A graduation ceremony will be held on April 24 prior to the Village Board meeting. Applicants must be at least 18 years old and reside, attend school or work in Hoffman Estates. To download an application, visit www.hoffmanestates.org/cpa. Interested applicants also can contact Sergeant Mark Mueller at (847) 781-2866 or via email at mark.mueller@hoffmanestates.org.

Lemont

Ballard earns Senior Citizen of the Year distinction

The village announced that Lemont Emergency Management Agency (LEMA) Director Tom Ballard was one of 12 Chicago-area residents to receive the 2016 Senior Citizen of the Year Award from U.S. Congressman Dan Lipinski. The winners were chosen based on contributions to their communities in the Third Congressional District. As LEMA Director, Ballard coordinates the efforts of the village and Lemont Township to prepare for, respond to, mitigate and recover from disaster — both natural and manmade. Ballard, who has been with the Village of Lemont since 1999, also works with local schools on tornado preparedness and shelter management. Ballard also is a member of IESMA (Illinois Emergency Services Management Association) and EMAT (Emergency Management Assistance Team), and is a partner with Cook and Will County Mutual Aids, and the Local Emergency Planning Commission of DuPage and Cook counties. For more information, call (630) 257-1550 or visit www.lemont.il.us.   

–Cook County News Briefs–