If they hire from inside again, nothing will change, if the hire from any other South Suburban town, nothing will change. Lets face the facts, all the South Suburban Chief's know each other, they have been tested for other towns and change never happens. They go from department to department with the same type of experience. Bring in someone who has experience in all the command positions. Lets not forget the education to go along with the job. Tell the mayor what you think.

Of course this is a option, the fish rots from the head down.

Of course we should look from the outside, look how well its working in Chicago.

We have a good department with some talented officers. By bringing in an outsider it will allow the department and the officers to grow. Dave is ok, but I personally would like to see someone else. With all of the previous corruption in Oak Forest,(Fire,PW and Credit Union) we need to break the tradition of promoting from within Oak Forest. Look outside, and bring in someone who will relate to the officers and the community.

The Mayor and Aldermen need to back away from the police department and quit taking care of their friends. The friends of the previous administration(s)stole from the city residents and acted with impunity because they were politically alligned and protected. Bringing in some fresh talent, will change that trend. I like what the Mayor stands for. I believe she is honest and has the best interests of the residents in mind. She should not let her inner circle allow her to sway from what she knows is the best thing to do. School principals and superintendants are seldom made from within. In many cases, change is good.

Oak Forest should try to do some things differently and a breath of frsh air. Hire a chief outside of the department, and outside of the south suburbs. Lets change direction and build a great future with some new and refreshing talent.

Inside wrote:

If they hire from inside again, nothing will change, if the hire from any other South Suburban town, nothing will change. Lets face the facts, all the South Suburban Chief's know each other, they have been tested for other towns and change never happens. They go from department to department with the same type of experience. Bring in someone who has experience in all the command positions. Lets not forget the education to go along with the job. Tell the mayor what you think.

Look to the outside and bring in some new talent. The department has educational incentives so the chief should be highly educated and well trained. The chief should have street experience so he can relate to the residents and the police officers.

Inside wrote:

If they hire from inside again, nothing will change, if the hire from any other South Suburban town, nothing will change. Lets face the facts, all the South Suburban Chief's know each other, they have been tested for other towns and change never happens. They go from department to department with the same type of experience. Bring in someone who has experience in all the command positions. Lets not forget the education to go along with the job. Tell the mayor what you think.

I say from within, This way they already know who everyone is. They know who's doing the job and working hard or slacking off. You wouldn't look outside of town for a Sgt or a LT. Rising up through the ranks is the way to do it. Some of these guys join the PD with dreams of being Chief one day. Don't yank the rug out from under them.
When it comes to Chief, it should be from within.

Oak Forest needs to quit dragging their feet and get us a police chief. Dave is not the guy so lets bring in an outsider with new ideas and change the direction of the police department.

We deserve better than this !

Well hiring for the best person for the job should be the only answer. Their is good and bad for hiring a Chief from in or out.

A prisoner died while in police custody and all the police did was to laugh and tease him before he committed suicide. Bring in someone new and change the direction of the OFPD.

Welcome Mayor Hank,
It is time for us to get a new police chief. DeMarco was one of Kelly's boys and he needs to return to his previous rank, before Kelly made him Deputy Chief.

Bring in an outsider who will professionalize and motivate our police force.

We are watching you Hank, do the right thing !

Bring in someone from outside.

I can't believe all this crap, any officer with rank has to kiss who ever is number one's backside including the Dept Chief and Chief. If you had any brains you would know that. Bringing in someone who knows nothing about this town or the people he/she works for has NO business being here, and won't have OF's best interest at heart. Sometimes you just have to put your differences behind you and move forward for the people you were sworn to protect.

Lots of Officers start out being the police and expect a possibility to move up to chief. Some of these Police officers have worked here for 25 years I know they know the needs of the poilce department better than a guy hired out of the classifides

The shock is settling in at City Hall. We are in need of a police chief. JoAnn was holding the spot open for Dave so she could appoint him after the election. Dave has contributed to the JoAnn Kelly political campaign in the past. That is easy enough to check.

Bring in a new police chief and let him change the direction of our police force. All of the old guard and those who were not in favor would have an even chance to prove themselves. Besides, a new chief would bring in new ideas and a beter way to treat the police officers. Good for everyone.

If you keep Dave it is more Kelly treatment.

Not everyone who joins the police force wants to be the chief. Not everyone who is on the police department is qualified to be the chief. Being a chief takes leadership and we currently dont have that on the police department. Do a search and hire the best qualified person for the job.

The officers who have been here for 25 years know only one way. They refuse to look at things differently or try something new. The current administration just does not listen to the officers. He plays both sides and most of the officers do not respect him. Didnt we just get rid of Kelly for that type of inflexable mindset.

No One Is Talking wrote:

Lots of Officers start out being the police and expect a possibility to move up to chief. Some of these Police officers have worked here for 25 years I know they know the needs of the poilce department better than a guy hired out of the classifides

Demarco like Kelley needs to go.

NEED A NEW CHIEF wrote:

The shock is settling in at City Hall. We are in need of a police chief. JoAnn was holding the spot open for Dave so she could appoint him after the election. Dave has contributed to the JoAnn Kelly political campaign in the past. That is easy enough to check.
Bring in a new police chief and let him change the direction of our police force. All of the old guard and those who were not in favor would have an even chance to prove themselves. Besides, a new chief would bring in new ideas and a beter way to treat the police officers. Good for everyone.
If you keep Dave it is more Kelly treatment.

Mayor Kuspa has the chance to make some significant change on the Oak Forest Police Department. Dave DeMarco is one of Kelly's guys. He gave $$$ to her campaign and she awarded Dave by making him the deputy chief a few years back. Morale is at an all time low on the department. No one knows what to think, who to talk to or what to do. Dave lined up some friends with the CSO spots. When will it end !

Bring in someone new with fresh ideas and a good way to treat people. I read an article a while back where they had quite a few applicants for the position of police chief. Lets look at those applications and find a good fit for our police department. Find someone who the officers will respect and be treated fairly. Lets move forward and get away from business as usual.

May 17, 2009
By Michael Drakulich

Staff Writer

I t didn't take long for Hank Kuspa to get involved in one of the more important decisions he will make while he is Oak Forest mayor.

The city has not had a full-time police chief for months. And Kuspa could be angling to name a new chief from within the department.

The city already has narrowed down its choices for police chief to five candidates, several of whom are not currently in the department.

But Kuspa said at Tuesday's city council meeting he wants to make sure candidates within the department haven't been overlooked.

Kuspa said the department's four lieutenants, each with more than 25 years experience, should be included in the mix.

Oak Forest has been without a police chief since September, following the retirement of Dennis Olszewski.

Kuspa said Dave DeMarco has been doing a "yeoman's job" as acting chief since Olszewski left. But, "it's time that we get this thing done and we need to get a police chief in place," he said.

However, Kuspa said, he understood some of the lieutenants in the department did not apply for the position because they did not meet the education requirements.

The city's requirements for the position were a minimum of a bachelor's degree in law enforcement, police science or closely related field. A master's degree was preferred, city administrator John Marquart said.

The job description also required 15 years experience as a police officer with five years in a senior command position.

Kuspa said the amount of experience each lieutenant had should be taken in lieu of a master's degree. Ald. Rich Simon (2nd) agreed.

Ald. Diane Wolf (3rd), who was on the police chief search committee, said some in the department did not meet the minimum requirements but the committee still interviewed them.

In response to Kuspa's request though, Wolf said she would consider any candidate who applied.

Marquart said all four of the department's lieutenants, none of whom were mentioned by name at the council meeting, were invited to apply for the job.

But not all took part, he said. Some declined for personal reasons.

Ald. Laura Clemons (1st) asked Kuspa if he was going to start a completely new search.

"I'm not looking to reinvent the wheel," Kuspa said. "It sounds like we have some good candidates. But I believe in Oak Forest we should seriously consider including all lieutenants."

Colloquy, be original and stop posting Southtown articles. We know how to read and where to find them.

How many of the Officers that sued each other remain? That is a huge reason to hire from the outside!