Kenneth Keyser shakes hands with Mayor Steve Landek after he is sworn in as Bridgeview’s newest police sergeant. (Photo by Steve Metsch)
Keyser promoted to police sergeant in Bridgeview
By Steve Metsch
After 24 years working on the Bridgeview Police Department, Kenneth Keyser finally has the job he’s been waiting for.
Keyser, 49, was promoted to sergeant at the May 4 meeting of the village board.
He’ll be in charge of the midnight shift, starting at 10 p.m. and working until 6 a.m. But he doesn’t mind one bit.
“It’s an acquired taste, but I’m sure I’ll get used to it,” he said with a laugh.
Being a police officer is something he’s wanted to do since he was a kid living in Oak Lawn.
“Since I was probably 6. We had an Oak Lawn cop who lived in the neighborhood, by my grandparents’ house. He was always good with the kids in the neighborhood. That made we want to do that and be a cop,” Keyser said.
He and his family lived in Oak Lawn until they moved to Bridgeview when he was 7 years of age.
Asked about memorable moments, he shrugged.
“Just. You know. I was in investigations for the past year, handled some property crime stuff that came my way and I assisted with other (law enforcement) agencies handling their major crimes,” Keyser said.
“I’ve never had to point my weapon,” he added.
Asked what he enjoys about the job, Keyser said: “Being able to do my part and help as many people as I can. I know that’s the standard answer.”
A graduate of Oak Lawn Community High School, he earned his associate’s degree in criminal justice at Moraine Valley, and then spent four years as a Marine.
Keyser served one year in the Philippines and three years at Camp Pendleton in California. He also spent time in Somalia.
“I’ve led an interesting life,” he said.
Keyser and wife Tina live in Bridgeview.
In other business, the board appointed Daniel Barron as a police officer. Barron did not attend the meeting.
The board also appointed Paul Gregory as a firefighter/paramedic.
The board by a 4-0 vote – trustees Mary Sutton and Norma Pinion were not present – approved spending $68,880 for a new pump at the pump station. The pump is being purchased from Metropolitan Pump Company, based in Romeoville.
“Once we get that in place, we’ll be able to start working on the other parts of our water system, to make sure everybody has their water when they turn their faucets on,” said Trustee James Cecott, who oversees public works.
The board also unanimously approved paying Imperial Surveillance, based in Arlington Heights, $134,720 for a new electronic entry system.
The system will be used by employees at the water treatment plant, fire station, EMA center, community center and SeatGeek Stadium.
The current system, Trustee Michael Pticek said, can be easily breached by buying a card on the Internet.
“This is an upgrade,” Pticek said. “The last time we had this system (installed) was 16 years ago.”
The board’s next meeting is scheduled for noon May 18.
Local News
Year of growth | Evergreen Park enjoying inaugural boys volleyball season
Spread the loveBy Xavier Sanchez Correspondent After almost 70 years of existence as a high school, Evergreen Park finally has a boys volleyball team. The Mustangs are playing their inaugural season with a junior varsity squad, with some matches being played at the varsity level. Head coach Brian Zofkie is leading this group with assistant…
‘Brazen and cowardly’: Police, community outraged by officer’s slaying
Spread the love. By Tim Hadac Police and others across the Southwest Side reacted with outrage this week over the slaying of a Chicago Police officer in the early morning hours on Sunday. Officer Luis M. Huesca was shot to death on the street in the 3100 block of West 56th Street at 2:53 a.m.…
Swanson scores, assists in Red Stars’ win over Reign
Spread the loveThe Red Stars improved to 3-1-1 by beating the Seattle Reign, 2-1, on the road on April 21. Mallory Swanson had an assist on an Ali Schlegel goal in the fourth minute and added a goal of her own in the 31st minute. Swanson missed last season after sustaining a knee injury on…
Red Stars’ Tatumn Milazzo has top Save of the Week
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent Tatumn Milazzo called her achievement “funny.” The Chicago Red Stars defender and Orland Park native was awarded the NWSL’s Save of the Week after chasing down a ball in a loss to Angel City on April 13. The Save of the Week usually goes to a goalie. Milazzo laughed…
Men’s College Volleyball | Saint Xavier captures fifth straight conference tourney title
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent The SXU men’s volleyball team won its fifth straight Chicagoland Christian Athletic Conference tournament championship after a 25-16, 25-17, 25-22 sweep of Calumet College of St. Joseph on April 20 at the Shannon Center. Jan Lopuch had 10 kills and nine digs for the Cougars. With the win, the…
College Baseball | Saint Xavier upsets Eastern Illinois
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent The Saint Xavier baseball team picked up a win that its players are going to remember for a long time. The Cougars stunned Eastern Illinois, 4-2, on April 17 in Charleston. It was the Cougars’ first win over the Panthers, a Division I program, since 2005. Lyons grad Troy…
St. Laurence hoops teams top honor roll
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent Area basketball teams proved to be strong on the court and in the classroom this season, and St. Laurence was the leader of the pack. The Illinois Basketball Coaches Association compiled a list of the top academic teams, and the area did well. In Division 3 girls, St. Laurence…
Neighbors
Donate teddy bears to our local police
Spread the love. Peggy Zabicki Your correspondent in West Lawn 3633 W. 60th Place • (773) 504-9327 . Have you ever seen the 1955 movie The Night of the Hunter? The children in this movie show such bravery and acceptance in what life has thrown at them. They have to deal with unimaginable events and sadness. …
Boy Scouts collecting tattered flags for disposal
Spread the love. By Mary Stanek Your correspondent in Archer Heights and West Elsdon 3808 W. 57th Place • (773) 517-7796 . Goodbye April, hello May. Our American Flag, the symbol of our country, should always be treated with respect. But after bearing Chicago’s brutal winters and hot blazing summers along with being in the…
Oak Lawn trustee says village needs state grocery tax
Spread the loveBy Joe Boyle An Oak Lawn trustee said that Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s proposal to eliminate the state’s grocery tax will be costly for the village. Trustee William “Bud” Stalker (5th), accompanied by Mayor Terry Vorderer, recently returned from a fact-finding trip to Springfield where they learned more about the governor’s proposal to eliminate…
Palos Heights recognizes volunteers
Spread the loveBy Nuha Abdessalam Palos Heights handed out awards last week recognizing the services provided by volunteers through the years. The proclamations, which were read aloud during the city council meeting April 16, were a testament to the city’s volunteers and were handed out as part of Volunteer Recognition Week. Volunteers were cited for…
Boys Volleyball | Richards weathering struggles after run of success
Spread the loveBy Xavier Sanchez Correspondent After a tough weekend at the Smack Attack tournament, Richards got back into the win column with a two-set victory over Eisenhower in a South Suburban Red match. The Bulldogs made quick work of the Cardinals, winning 25-16, 25-15 on April 23 in Oak Lawn to snap a five-match…
SD218 puts on annual Arts Extravaganza
Spread the loveBy Kelly White The arts have become a major portion of the curriculum Community High School District 218. Showcasing those many talents, the Friends of CHSD 218’s Education Foundation proudly hosted its 15th annual Arts Extravaganza on April 5 at Eisenhower High School in Blue Island. “The Arts Extravaganza is a great event…
Gaming licenses to be tougher to get in Orland Park
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva It’s going to take longer to receive gaming licenses in Orland Park. The village board passed an ordinance April 15 that would allow table service businesses open at least 36 consecutive months to apply rather than the previous 18 months, and extended the probationary period to 18 months instead of…
Palos Park passes $16 million budget
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva The Palos Park Village Council approved the 2024-25 budget, which totals a little more than $16.3 million at the April 22 village council meeting. According to village documents, it represented an increase of a shade over $603,000 from last year. The village is expecting $13.4 million in revenue and $1.86…
Fire damages Al Bahaar Restaurant in Orland Park
Spread the loveFrom staff reports Orland Fire Protection District firefighters responded to a fire Monday evening at the Al Bahaar Restaurant, 39 Orland Square Dr. At first, restaurant owners suspected the fire alarm was triggered by a malfunction, but as firefighters inspected the restaurant to reset the fire alarm, they detected a burning smell. “What…