Do-it-all Chibe promoted to Palos Park sergeant

By Jeff Vorva

Ross Chibe has done a variety of work in his police career in Palos Park starting at the bottom as an intern when he was still in school.

No job was too small back then and no job has been too big in recent years, which included stints with a FBI task force, the Illinois Law Enforcement Alarm System Mobile Field Force Response Team, the U.S. Department of Justice and the Crimes against Children team.

The jack-of-all-trades was promoted to sergeant at the Palos Park village council meeting on Aug. 28. Police Commissioner Dan Polk swore him in.

“Investigator Ross Chibe had many roles in law enforcement over 18 years,” Polk said. “He became a police cadet when he was 14 years old. He went from part-time officer to full-time officer and had many specialty roles.

“He has overseen everything for many years.”

Polk noted that Chibe was recently given a first responder award by the Lions Club.

“They recognized that the man is truly a top cop,” Polk said. “They noted his dedication and as an officer and investigator is a model of the profession. He’s a leader, making our community safer for everyone.”

Several members of the police department were on hand at the meeting in the Kaptur Administrative Center to cheer Chibe on after he was sworn in.

“To the member of the Palos Park Police Department, I pledge to strive to provide you with the best leadership, direction and support that I can,” Chibe said. “As the police profession continues to evolve, I am confident that we will meet each challenge and remember that our responsibility is to the men and women that we have sworn to serve.”

Cadet honored

Chicago Christian student and Orland Park resident Costadinos Nomikos earned the Mayor John F. Mahoney Police/Cadet Explorer Scholarship and was presented with a $500 scholarship check during the Aug. 28 meeting.

“This academic partnership program offers high school and college seniors the opportunity to spend a semester working in a public safety agency, working with our staff, patrol, administration and investigations,” Polk said. “It gives students a direction on what career path they might want to pursue.

“From this internship program, this gentleman became a part of the Palos Park cadet program and then a Palos Park community service officer, where he has been serving the last three years.”

The scholarship was named in the honor of former mayor John Mahoney, who served in that post for 16 years.

Appointments

The council appointed Nicholas W. Karas as the village prosecutor for administrative adjudication and for circuit court hearings at the Fifth District Courthouse in Bridgeview.

It also appointed Adrienne Jackiw to the Newcomers Welcoming Ad hoc Committee.