Administration
General responsibilities
- Providing overall direction and vision to the agency and personnel
- Ensuring the quality of the police service delivered to the residents of Rochelle is at the highest level
- Managing the budget and equipment, administering policy and procedure
- Researching, planning, maintaining training standards and records
- Preparing annual reports and statistical data, overseeing community related programs
- Addressing community concerns and complaints
Chief
Eric Higby
Chief Higby joined the department in 1996. He is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the department. He has training in Terrorism, Critical Incident Response,School Violence and Personnel Management. He has a Bachelor's Degree in Law Enforcement Administration. He is a graduate of both the Northwestern University's School of Staff and Command and the 234th session of the FBI National Academy. He serves on the Board of Directors for the Shining Star Children's Advocacy Center.
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Detective Sergeant
Jeff Leininger
Detective Sgt. Leininger joined the department in 1998. He is the Supervisor of the Detective Division. He has training in Homicide Investigation, Juvenile Law, Interviewing and Interrogation, Photography, Medical First Responder, ERT, Breath Alcohol Testing and Critical Response. He is also a graduate of Northwestern University's School of Staff and Command.
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Sergeant
Phil Frankenberry
Sgt. Frankenberry joined the department in 1998. He is assigned to the Patrol Division. He has training in S.W.A.T., Critical Incident Response, Rapid Deployment, Juvenile Law, Drug Investigations and truck weight enforcement. He is a graduate of Northwestern University's School of Police Staff and Command and served four years in the United States Air Force.
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Sergeant
Jason Bergeron
Sgt. Bergeron joined the department in 2000. He is assigned to the Patrol Division. He has training in Juvenile Law, Breath Alcohol Operator, Gang and Drug Investigation, Field Sobriety Testing, Interview and Interrogation and Computer Crimes. He serves as a Firearms Instructor and a Team Leader on the Emergency Response Team. He has his Associate's Degree in Criminal Justice, and he served four years in the United States Air Force.
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Sergeant
William Haan
Sgt. Haan joined the department in 2003. He is assigned to the Patrol Division. He has training in Breath Alcohol Operator, Sex Offender Registration, Supervision, Rapid Deployment, Leadership, Complete Traffic Stops, Field Interviews, Search and Seizure, Patrol Tactics, Interview and Interrogation, and is trained in Juvenile Law.
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Sergeant
Chester Smith
Sgt. Smith joined the department in 2002. He is assigned to the Patrol Division. He has training in Supervision, Juvenile Law, Breath Alcohol Operator, D.U.I. Enforcement, Sex Offender Registration, Rapid Deployment, and Interview and Interrogation and he supervises the department's fleet maintenance program.
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Communications Supervisor
Sandy Sullivan
Communications Supervisor Sullivan joined the department in 1996. She is in charge of the Communications Division, handles department records, is the administrator for the CAD & Records Management System, and is one of the departments FOIA Officers. She also serves on the Ogle County 9-1-1 Board.
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Investigations Division
Detectives assigned to this division are responsible for follow-up investigations, maintenance of community programs including safety talks, and conducting special enforcement initiatives. As a result of their unique abilities and specialized training, these individuals are tasked with solving cases that are generally too time consuming for the patrol division to handle. These cases can range from juvenile offenses to homicides. Regular interaction with the patrol division ensures a high case clearance rate via a unified department.
Detective
Terry Inman
Inman joined the department in 2001. He is assigned to the Detective Division. He has training in Domestic Terrorism, Drug and Gang Investigation, Homicide Investigation, and Sex Crimes. He serves as a member of the Illinois Attorney General’s Internet Task Force, ILEAS Mobile Field Force and Child Death Review Team. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Law Enforcement Administration and a Master of Science in Biosecurity-Disaster Preparedness.
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Detective
John Kaltenbach
Kaltenbach joined the department in 2004. He is assigned to the Detective Division. He has training in Vehicle Reclamations, Homicide Investigations, Interview and Interrogation, Ground Fighting, Breath Alcohol Operator, Juvenile Law, Taser instructor, and is a member of the Emergency Response Team. He holds and Associate's Degree in Criminal Justice.
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Patrol Division
The Patrol Divison is the largest and most visible part of the department. Some of the calls for service handled by patrol may include emergency medical calls, neighbor disputes, disturbances, animal complaints and criminal offenses. One of the goals of this division is to assist in making Rochelle a safe environment for those who reside in or travel through our city. We strive to achieve this goal through directed or routine patrols, and by interacting with the public.
Officer
Aaron Rodabaugh
Rodabaugh joined the department in 2001. He is assigned to the Patrol Division. He is a Field Training Officer and has training in Field Sobriety Testing, Breath Alcohol Operator, Rapid Deployment, Interview and Interrogation, Accident Investigation and Juvenile Law. He served four years in the United States Marines as an MP. He has an Associate's Degree in Criminal Justice.
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Officer
Matthew Wittenberg
Wittenberg joined the department in 2004. He serves on the Emergency Response Team and he is a firearms and less-lethal shotgun instructor. In addition, he has received specialized training in Tactical Interactions, S.W.A.T., and Patrol Tactics. He won the department’s A.A.I.M. award for three consecutive three years for having the most D.U.I. arrests and he was recognized again in 2012 by A.A.I.M. for his efforts.
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Officer
Jim Gilliam
Gilliam joined the department in 2005 and is assigned to the Patrol Division. He has training in S.W.A.T., Gang Investigations, Breath Alcohol Operator, Excited Delirium and Juvenile Law. He serves as a member of the Emergency Response Team, is a Taser Instructor and is a Field Training Officer. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Law Enforcement and Justice Administration. He was recognized by A.A.I.M. in 2012 for his D.U.I. arrests.
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Officer
James Jakymiw
Jakymiw joined the department in 2007. He is assigned to the Patrol Division. He has training in Juvenile Law, Hazmat, Taser, Police Spanish, L.E.A.D.S. and Breath Alcohol Operator. He holds a B.S. Degree in Law Enforcement and Justice Administration.
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Officer
Matthew Gerard
Gerard joined the department in 2007 and is assigned to the patrol division. He is a certified Juvenile Officer and has received specialized training in S.W.A.T., M-16, Tactical Interactions, and serves as a member of the Emergency Response Team.
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Officer
Elvis Baneski
Baneski joined the department in 2008. He is assigned to the Patrol Divisionand serves as one of the department’s K-9 handlers. He has training in Complete Traffic Stops, Rapid Deployment and is a Certified Juvenile Officer. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management. He had the highest number of D.U.I. arrests for the department in 2011, and was recognized by A.A.I.M.
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Officer
Joe Sester
Sester joined the department in 2011. He is assigned to the Patrol Division. He has training in Patrol Tactics, Complete Traffic Stops, truck weight enforcement and has prior police experience.
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Officer
Ryan Beery
Officer Beery joined the department in 2014 and has an Associate's Degree in Criminal Justice. Ryan is also a certified juvenile officer, and has received training in police spanish, OC, Taser and FTO. He is a gang specialist , became a k9 officer in 2016 , breath alcohol operator , trained in interview and interrogation.
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Officer
Ryan Kovacs
Officer Kovacs joined the department in 2015. Ryan has a Bachelor's Degree in Criminology from NIU. He has received training in search and seizure, control tactics, impact weapons, taser, OC, PBT-BAO, enhanced patrol techniques, FEMA first responder, field sobriety testing and drugged driver detection, Medical Marijuana Enforcement Gang Crime Specialist training, , police Spanish and completed 200 hours through the State of Illinois Correctional Officer Academy.
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K-9 Axel
Communications Division
The Communications Division serves as a public safety answering point (PSAP) for the City of Rochelle, and provides emergency and non-emergency radio and telephone communications for the police and fire departments. Dispatchers utilize an enhanced 9-1-1 (E911) system and computer aided dispatch (CAD) to rapidly and efficiently perform their duties.
Dispatcher
Luisa Nambo
Nambo joined the department in 2003. She is assigned to the 9-1-1 dispatch center. She has training in L.E.A.D.S., Communications Training Officer, Fire Dispatch, Domestic Violence and 9-1-1 Liability. She is a certified Child Safety Seat Technician, Ogle County Siren Operations and On-Star.
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Dispatcher
Cory Beck
Beck joined the department in 2004. She is assigned to the 9-1-1 dispatch center. She has training in Law Enforcement Dispatch, Communications Training Officer, Medical Dispatch, L.E.A.D.S., Ogle County Siren Operations and On-Star.
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Dispatcher
Robin Olszewski
Olszewski joined the department in 2007. He is assigned to the 9-1-1 Dispatch center. He is L.E.A.D.S. Certified, trained in Power Phone EMD, 9-1-1 Dispatch, Ogle County Siren Operations and ON-Star.
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Dispatcher
Cassie Rogers
Rogers joined the department in 2013. She is assigned to the 9-1-1 Dispatch center. She is L.E.A.D.S. Certified, trained in Power Phone EMD, 9-1-1 Dispatch, Ogle County Siren Operations and ON-Star.
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Dispatcher
Trevor Owen
Trevor began as a part-time dispatcher in July 2015 and became full time in August 2015. He is currently working on his Dispatch-U Just in Time Training along with other required training.
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Dispatcher
Senada Ajvazi
Dispatcher Ajvazi joined the department in 2015 as part time and became full time in 2016. She is assigned to the 9-1-1 dispatch center. Senada is certified in Leads, advance law enforcement dispatch, advanced fire dispatch, EMD, 911 Dispatch, CPR, AED, On-Star and TTY along with Ogle County siren operations.
