Chief Cook Promotes Pair Of Commanders To Deputy Chief Positions

EVANSTON, IL — There will be new officers in charge of the field operations and support services divisions of the Evanston Police Department starting next month. Department officials Wednesday announced the promotion of two commanders with a combined 35 years of experience in Evanston to fill one vacant and one soon-to-be vacant deputy chief position.

Cmdr. Jody Wright, the current commander of the department's investigative services division and special operations group, will take over the deputy chief job vacated by the retirement of Joe Dugan in January, according to a release. He will oversee administration, 911 communications, records management, the police service desk and the 311 center atop the support services division.

Wright will also be responsible for making sure Evanston police procedures meet the standards of the community and current best practices. He will lead the review of use of force procedures that Mayor Steve Hagerty committed to earlier this month. Wright joined the department as a patrol officer in 2002 and in 2016 became the commander of the Office of Professional Standards, or OPS, which reviews complaints by citizens.

Cmdr. Melissa Sacluti, who currently commands the first detail of patrol, will take over the field operations division — patrol, traffic and community strategies — following the retirement of Deputy Chief James Pickett, who plans to step down June 26, according to the release.

Sacluti joined the department in 2003 as a patrol officer before serving as a detective in the neighborhood enforcement team, investigations and a patrol sergeant and assigned to the office of professional standards. Since 2014, Sacluti has been the department's LGBT liaison and serves on its peer support team and use of force review committee, according to the release.

The department also announced the promotion of Sgt. Jodie Hart, who currently leads OPS, and Sgt. Lyz Glynn to the rank of commander, while Officers Sophia Syed and Marla Dukler will become sergeants. No information was immediately available on who will command OPS next month. Deputy Chief Aretha Barnes will remain in charge of the investigative services division.

Announcing the promotions, which are all effective July 1, Chief Demitrous Cook expressed confidence in his picks for new deputy chiefs.

"Commander Wright and Commander Sacluti are proven leaders who embody the values of our diverse community and share a steadfast commitment to public safety and community policing," Cook said in a statement. "I look forward to working with each of them in their new positions as we continue to strengthen Evanston’s longstanding police-community partnership, build trust and transparency, and protect the safety and well-being of all who live, work and visit our city."