Politics & Government
Mayor Thompson Salutes Broadview Police Promotions, Diversity
Broadview Board of Trustees voted, 5-0, on Monday to promote Broadview Police Sgt. Michael Akim to the rank of lieutenant commander.
(Broadview, IL) – West suburban Broadview authorized this week the promotion of multiple police officers to leadership posts within the Broadview Police Department, following on the heels of other promotions and new hires in recent weeks.
The Broadview Board of Trustees voted, 5-0, on Monday to promote Broadview Police Sgt. Michael Akim to the rank of lieutenant commander.
Akim “stepped up to the plate” mayor says.
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“Thank you for your leadership,” Mayor Katrina Thompson told Akim after the board vote. “When you stepped up to the plate, it meant a lot to me and to this community. I appreciate that. You earned this position. I know that you are going to do what is in the best interest of our community.”
An abrupt, unexpected, recent retirement had left a temporary vacuum.
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Trustees also voted to lift officers Erik Davis and Ian Florentino to rank of sergeant. Florentino is the department’s first Asian-American sergeant. Davis’ father had previously served as a Broadview police sergeant, too.
“I am extremely proud of our police department. We have come a long way,” said Thompson. “Just to see the diversity among our police department, well, that speaks volumes to a community that is 77% African American.”
A “shift has been made.”
“When I look at the police leadership team that is standing here, I see that a shift has been made,” said Thompson. “We have our first African-American-Japanese police chief, our first African-American deputy chief, our first Asian-American sergeant. That speaks volumes to our community that we embrace diversity here. I’m proud of that.”
On November 1, the board voted to promote Broadview Police Sgt. Pierre Smith to the vacant post of deputy chief. And on October 18 Thomas Mills, a 31-year veteran of the Chicago Police Department, was sworn-in to lead Broadview’s 37-officer department, following the retirement of former Police Chief Kevin Eugling earlier this year.
Thompson recognizes the entire Broadview police force.
“We have a good department,” Thompson said during the board meeting. “We have a lot of good officers in this community. We appreciate you and we know the hard work that you go through every day.”
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