Romeoville Swears In New Officer, Promotes Sergeant

ROMEOVILLE, IL — Two officers were sworn in at Wednesday's Romeoville Village Board workshop meeting. Anthony Panko was sworn in as a police officer, and Mike O'Connor was sworn in as a sergeant for the Romeoville Police Department.

Chief Ken Kroll introduced both officers at the meeting, and said Panko grew up in Woodridge.

Panko is a graduate of Downers Grove South High School, and a former College of DuPage student, Kroll said. Panko started his career in law enforcement in 2017, and was a graduate of the Chicago Police Academy.

"He spent time with the Chicago Police and the Niles Police, before landing in the right spot here in Romeoville," Kroll said.

Mike O'Connor, an officer with Romeoville since 2012, was also sworn in as a sergeant on Wednesday.

O'Connor is a graduate of Bolingbrook High School, and a graduate of North Central College.

"Mike graduated from the Cook County Sheriff's police academy as the Frank Knapp award recipient, and that's handed out to the most outstanding recruit officer," Kroll said.

Kroll said O'Connor has an "impressive" work history, and has served as a tactical officer, a detective, a bicycle officer and an evidence technician at Romeoville.