Two members of the Morton Grove Police Department received promotions Monday at the Morton Grove village board meeting.
Sergeant Ed Panko was promoted to commander and Officer Eric Eimer was promoted to sergeant.
Both were sworn in to their new duties at the podium by Michael Simkins, chair of the Police and Fire Commission, as many fellow members of the department watched.
Here are their biographies, as read at the meeting by Simkins.
Edward A. Panko, promoted to commander
Ed Panko graduated from the Chicago Police Academy in 1992 as a Certified Law Enforcement Officer. He began his law enforcement career as a Chicago Housing Authority Police Officer where he worked patrol. There he gained experience in dealing with gangs and drugs.
In July of 1993 he was hired by the Morton Grove Police department where he worked as a patrol officer until 1997 when he became an investigator including a two-year assignment with the NORTAF homicide unit. Ed was promoted to Sergeant in 2003. Since 1995 Ed continues to receive state certifications in the following areas of law enforcement:
Find out what's happening in Niles-Morton Grovewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
· Field Training Officer, State Certified 1995
· Evidence Technician, State Certified 1997
Find out what's happening in Niles-Morton Grovewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
· Juvenile Specialist, State Certified 1999
· Fire Investigator, State Certified 2001
· Firearms Instructor, 2000-2003
· Firearms Range Master, 2003-2008
· NORTAF Major Crimes Investigator, 2002-2003
· Evidence Technician Supervisor since 2003
During his employment with Morton Grove, Ed has received two Department Commendations, including one for subduing an offender who was dragging his mother into a garage to kill her and subsequently recovered 3 handguns, a Bowie knife and hundreds of rounds of ammunition.
In October of 1999 Ed received the Sheriffs Merit Award for professionalism, dedication and aggressiveness.
Eric Eimer, promoted to sergeant
Eric began his career with the Morton Grove Police Department in September of 2007.
He grew up in downstate Illinois and later earned an Economics degree from the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana. After graduation he spent 10 years in the private sector before joining the Morton Grove Police Department.
Eric has served as a Patrol Officer, a Special Operations Officer, and a Detective. He has also served as a Liquor and Tobacco Enforcement Officer and a Crime Prevention Officer, speaking to students in their classrooms and during police department tours. During the course of his service, Eric has earned the Top Cop award and the Chief’s Meritorious Service Award.
In addition to his duties as a detective, Eric serves on the Department’s Technology Committee and the NORCOM Technical Committee. He is also an Evidence Technician, a Field Training Officer, a Communities Against Terrorism officer, and a supervisor on the NORTAF Major Crash Assistance Team.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
