Medeisis promoted to fire battalion chief in Bridgeview

By Steve Metsch

The Bridgeview Fire Department has a new battalion chief.

Michael Medeisis, 55, was promoted from the rank of lieutenant at the Jan. 5 meeting of the Bridgeview Village Board.

“Hey, hot diggity dog, we’ve got a great guy (promoted),” village Trustee Michael Pticek said.

Trustee James Cecott said the promotion was due.

“I think he shows great dedication, 28 years on the force,” Cecott added. “He’s seen a lot. Done a lot. And he deserves this.”

Medeisis, 55, of Palos Heights, said he feels “fantastic” being promoted.

“I have two years left before I retire and this is a nice way to finish my career,” he said.

A battalion chief oversees the entire fire department on the 24-hour shift that day, he said. There are three shifts on the department, so each shift works one full day, then has two days off.

Medeisis, who is married and has two children, said he grew up wanting to be a firefighter.

“My uncle was a firefighter,” he said. “I started as a volunteer at North Palos (Fire Protection District) and started here 28 years ago.”

He recently returned from Louisiana where he was helping out after Hurricane Ida hit the Gulf Coast.

“The damage down there is crazy,” he said. “A guy told me by the end of your career, you’ll see everything once. He’s been pretty much spot on with that.”

Fire Chief John Jennings said Medeisis deserves the promotion.

“He’s an excellent officer and is going to be a good leader,” Jennings said. “He can respond accordingly to pretty much any situation.”

The department is not fully staffed right now thanks to two recent resignations, Jennings said. As a result, Jennings is also a battalion chief in addition to his fire chief duties.

In other business, the board rescinded approval of buying a 2022 Ford Police Interceptor SUV from Morrow Brothers Ford in downstate Greenfield.

That purchase, approved in December, was for $35,650.

The purchase was rescinded because the village found a better deal.

“It’s a little bit cheaper than the previous one,” Trustee Norma Pinion said.

The board will instead buy the same vehicle for $35,000 from Currie Motors in Frankfort, saving Bridgeview $650.

Police Chief Ricardo Mancha said the switch made sense: “We were able to find it for a little cheaper. Save a few bucks.”

The board’s next meeting will be at noon Jan. 19 in the village hall.