South Chicago Heights Police Promote Three Officers

SOUTH CHICAGO HEIGHTS, IL — The South Chicago Heights Police Department promoted three officers — two of them veterans in the department — Monday night.

Sergeant Jesse “Jake” Kozinski, a 22-year veteran, was promoted to lieutenant. Dean Banks, a 19-year veteran, and Jeremy Joyce, who has served for 6 years, were promoted to sergeant.

During the the past two years, the department has added four full-time and eight part-time officers to its ranks.

In April, the village voted to become a home rule municipality, which allowed it to adopt a police officer lateral hire ordinance, Chief Bill Joyce said in a statement.

"With the new hires, promotions, and ability to recruit additional officers through lateral hiring, the future of the South Chicago Heights Police Department has become much brighter," he said.

In the photo from left to right: Chief Bill Joyce, Sergeant Jeremy Joyce, Lieutenant Jesse "Jake" Kozinski, Sergeant Dean Banks, and Deputy Chief Tim Wehrle.