Ex-Palatine Police Chief Hired As Mount Prospect Top Cop

MOUNT PROSPECT, IL - Former Palatine Police Chief John Koziol will be the next chief of police in Mount Prospect, the village announced on Thursday. Koziol was selected for the top Mount Prospect police job over several other candidates after a long career with the Palatine Police Department.

Koziol was the Chief of Police in Palatine from 2002 to 2014. He began with the department as a patrolman in 1985 and rose through the ranks for the next 17 years, according to a Mount Prospect village memo.

“I would describe John as a positive, forward-thinking ‘cop’s cop,’” Mount Prospect Village Manager Michael Cassady said. “He can relate to what officers and civilians encounter on a day-to-day basis. He has a solid understanding of the challenges that both the Village and the Police Department are facing and I believe his leadership style and commitment to high performance will be an excellent fit for the organization.”

Koziol said he was "honored" to have been selected for his second police chief job in the north suburbs. He indicated plans not to accept a second police pension, but to have a 401(a) plan instead.

“I’ve always known the men and women of the Mount Prospect Police Department to be ‘Real Police,’" Koziol said. "For that reason, they already have my respect. I know I must still earn their respect and look forward to doing that in the coming months."

Between his time in Palatine and Mount Prospect, Koziol was a police officer in the nearby Village of Inverness.

Koziol replaces Timothy Janowick, who retired as Mount Prospect Chief of Police earlier this year.

Photo via Village of Mount Prospect