Tinley Park Names New Deputy Police Chiefs, Commanders: Village

TINLEY PARK, IL — The Village of Tinley Park recently promoted Cmdr. Keith Sullivan to Deputy Police Chief of Administration and Sgt. Jonathan Mittelman to Division Police Commander, and hired Chicago Police Department Capt. Brian McDermott as Deputy Police Chief of Operations, and former Illinois State Police Master Sgt. James Poortinga as Division Police Commander of Patrol.

The Village announced the hires in a press release late Thursday.

Sullivan has been in law enforcement since 1998 and joined the Tinley Park Police Department 21 years ago. He has served as Division Police Commander of special programs and spent nearly 13 years as Sergeant, of which he oversaw Patrol for nine years and Administration for four years. He’s worked with the South Suburban Emergency Response Team (SSERT) and executed special events operational and contingency plans for the Live Nation venue.

Mittelman joined the Tinley Park Police Department in 2011. He has spent the last six years in the rank of Sergeant, leading patrol shifts and the Street Crimes Suppression Unit. He has been responsible for the DEA task force officers and Narcotics and Currency Interdiction Team (NARCINT) task force officers, the Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) program, and the Advanced CSI team.

Sullivan and Sgt. Mittleman are both graduates of the Northwestern University Center of Police Safety and Command.

“Cmdr. Sullivan and Sgt. Mittelman are fine officers who exemplify the mission and values of the Tinley Park Police Department,” Tinley Park Police Chief Tom Tilton said. “They’ve served the Tinley Park community admirably, and I know both will continue to excel in their new roles.”

McDermott is a 30-year police veteran and former Chief of Patrol for the Chicago Police department with extensive law enforcement experience. He’s been responsible for the development, management, and implementation of all law enforcement strategies, administrative functions, and emergency planning/operations across all 22 police districts and all of Chicago. He was responsible for the management, mentoring, career development, and wellness of seven deputy chiefs, 26 commanders, and approximately 6,700 officers and supervisors. McDermott "has demonstrated exceptional leadership and management skills, overseen large teams, driven strategic initiatives, and used technology/data-driven solutions." He has a master’s degree in applied computer science and has received numerous honors and awards throughout his career.

Poortinga has served with the Illinois State Police for 27 years, working in Patrol, Investigations, the Office of the Director, SWAT, and Internal Investigations. During his career, he was responsible for interstate patrol; served as a Field Training Officer, Field Sergeant, Shift Commander, Region 1 SWAT operator, and Control and Arrest Tactics Instructor; worked with the Crisis Intervention Team; and was a Certified Traffic Crash Reconstruction Specialist and an instructor in the Illinois State Police Academy. He has experience with high-risk arrests and warrant service, multi-jurisdictional task forces, fusion centers, labor relations, and contract negotiations. He has a B.A. in psychology and a Juris Doctor.

“Cpt. McDermott and Master Sgt. Poortinga both have an impressive resume, with years of experience and training that they will bring to Tinley Park,” Tinley Park Mayor Michael Glotz said. “Tinley Park is also lucky to have Cmdr. Sullivan and Sgt. Mittelman step into new roles, where they can use their considerable skills and talents to continue to keep our streets safe for residents, businesses, and visitors.”

Sullivan and Mittelman will be appointed at the Aug. 6 Village Board meeting, and
McDermott and Poortinga will be appointed at the Aug. 19 meeting.