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6 | August 2, 2018 | The Mokena Messenger NEWS
mokenamessenger.com
Mokena Board of Trustees
Mokena police promote pair, 4th of July parade awards announced
Jon DePaolis
Freelance Reporter
It was a night of celebration
for two members of the Mokena
Police Department July
23, at the Village of Mokena
Board of Trustees meeting.
Mokena Police Chief
Steve Vaccaro said the budget
allowed for the hiring of
a second police commander
position. After receiving five
letters of interest from Mokena
police sergeants — all
of whom Vaccaro said were
good candidates — Chris
Carlson was selected as the
new commander. Vaccaro
said Carlson began serving
in that role earlier in the day.
Carlson started with the
Mokena Police Department
in 1993. During his tenure,
he’s served as a patrol officer,
a DARE officer, a tactical
officer, a detective, and
most recently as a sergeant
— taking over the Crime
Prevention Unit.
“During his career, he’s
received 45 letters of distinguished
duty and one letter
of meritorious duty, and 10
letters of exceptional duty,”
Vaccaro said.
Carlson thanked the board,
as well as his family, for the
promotion.
“It means a lot to me and
my family,” Carlson said.
“From my heart, 25 years
of dedication to the Village,
I’m glad I finally got to this
point. It’s been fantastic.”
Carlson said he feels that
Mokena has one of the best
police departments around
and said he is honored to
work alongside his fellow
officers and colleagues.
Also, as a result of the
promotion of Carlson, Joseph
Ballantine — formerly
a detective with the department
— was promoted to the
rank of sergeant.
Vaccaro said Ballantine
Bob Spychalski
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Round it up
A brief recap of other items discussed at the July
23 meeting
• As part of the Consent Agenda, trustees voted 5-0
to approve site and landscape plans, light fixtures and
building elevations for Wu’s House, located at 19826
La Grange Road. Trustee Jillian Hersted was absent.
• Trustees also voted 5-0 to approve a special use
permit for Car Doc Automotive, located at 18813 82nd
Ave.
• In another 5-0 vote, trustees approved an ordinance
amending public ways and property regulations for
small wireless facilities in accordance with Illinois
Public Act 100-0585, which was signed into law by
Gov. Bruce Rauner earlier this year.
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was hired in 2007. During
his time with the department,
he has been a patrol
officer and a detective with
the investigations division.
Ballantine has received one
letter of meritorious duty, 30
letters of distinguished duty,
and eight letters of exceptional
duty.
“I’m looking forward to
having Sgt. Ballantine on
my staff,” Vaccaro said. “He
did a phenomenal job as a
detective, and he’s going to
do an even better job as a supervisor.
He’s well respected
by his peers and by the patrol
division.”
Ballantine also thanked the
board, as well as his family.
“Honestly, if it wasn’t for
my wife telling me to quit
doing the banking job and
becoming a police officer
— because I talked about
it enough — I wouldn’t be
here,” he said. “Honestly,
it’s been the best thing that
has ever happened to me.”
Ballantine said it is a joy
coming to work every day at
the Mokena Police Department.
And the winners are...
The night also kicked off
with a celebration of the
Fourth of July Parade float
winners. Cindy Gamboa,
who organizes the event,
was on-hand to hand out the
trophies and thank the volunteers
and donors.
“Thank you to Village
Administrator John Tomasoski,
Mayor Frank
Fleischer and all the Village
people,” Gamboa said.
“The staff and the board
who support our efforts
each year to make it the
best parade yet.”
Gamboa said organizing
and volunteering for the parade
has been a family tradition
for years.
“It’s our favorite summer
tradition, and we love to
pass it on to everyone,” she
said. “We hope it continues
on for years to come.”
Judges for the floats this
year were: Kelly Quigley,
of Aurelio’s Pizza; Terri Erickson,
of Grace Fellowship
Church; and Emily Vaccaro,
wife of Mokena Police Chief
Steve Vaccaro.
The winners were: Best
Parade Float went to St.
John’s United Church of
Christ; Most Creative Presentation
of a Business or
Group went to the Veterans
Garage; Best in Keeping
with the Theme “200 Years
of Amazing Things in Illinois”
went to Our Fallen
Hero 5K in Memory of Pfc.
Aaron Toppen; the judges’
choice award winners were
Minuteman Press of Frankfort,
the Crowhurst family,
and the Mokena Community
Park District; and the executive
director’s choice was
Same Day Tees.
After the awards were
handed out, Mayor Frank
Fleischer thanked Gamboa
for her efforts.
“I think all of us up here
[on the Village Board] appreciate
what you do year
after year for us,” Fleischer
said. “We appreciate all the
people who put the time and
Please see board, 9
Newly promoted Mokena Police Commander Chris
Carlson thanks members of Mokena’s Board of Trustees
and his family during the July 23 meeting. Photos by Jon
DePaolis/22nd Century Media
Joseph Ballantine — formerly a detective with the
department — was promoted to the rank of sergeant.
Cindy Gamboa, who organizes the Fourth of July parade,
recognizes the parade float winners.