Bolingbrook Swears In New Firefighters, Police Officers

BOLINGBROOK, IL — Several new firefighters and police officers have joined the ranks of the Bolingbrook Fire and Bolingbrook Police departments.

At Tuesday's board meeting, three firefighters and eight police officers were sworn in. Three members of the police department were also promoted to various positions.

At Tuesday's swearing in, Lieutenant Sean Koren was promoted to police commander, Sergeant Brennan Woods was promoted to lieutenant, and Detective Jason Mitchem was promoted to sergeant.

Fire Chief Jeff LaJoie swore in Blake Coughlin, Alex Minor and Tom Rice as firefighters.

LaJoie said Coughlin is a 2018 Plainfield East High School graduate, and has an Associate's degree in fire science from the College of DuPage, and is a certified paramedic through the state.

Minor is a 2017 Joliet Central High School graduate, and is a certified paramedic through the state of Illinois and has basic firefighter training, LaJoie said. Minor previously worked for the East Joliet Fire Protection District.

Rice is a 2013 graduate of Minooka Community High School. LaJoie said Rice previously worked for the Steger Fire Department, and is a certified paramedic and has basic firefighter training.

In addition to police promotions, Police Chief Mike Rompa introduced eight new police officers who were sworn in.

Kevin Justus is a graduate of Lyons Township High School, and served as an infantryman in the U.S. Army, Rompa said. He was deployed to Africa and Iraq during his service, and was honorably discharged in 2019. He previously worked at the McCook Police Department.

Daniel Lederman is a graduate of Oswego High School, and earned a Bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Western Illinois University, Rompa said.

Leonardo Flores is a graduate of West Aurora High School and has served in the U.S. National Guard, Rompa said.

Nicholas Bedtka is a graduate of Plainfield North High School and Purdue University Global, Rompa said. He served for six years in the U.S. Army as a military policeman. Bedtka previously worked for the Lansing Police Department.

Devin Smith is a graduate of Iowa Wesleyan College, where he earned a degree in criminal justice, Rompa said. He served in the Illinois Army National Guard for six years, and also previously worked for the Lansing Police Department.

Doniel McClendon has a degree in political science from South Dakota State University and a Master's degree in psychology from Indiana Wesleyan University, Rompa said.

Justin Smith is a graduate of Plainfield East High School and earned a degree in criminal justice from the University of Dubuque, Rompa said.

John Mologousis is a graduate of Lyons Township High School and earned a degree in kinesthesiology from the University of Illinois, where he was a Division 1 wrestler, Rompa said.