Police Roster

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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Deputy Chief
Jeff Leininger

Deputy Chief. Leininger joined the department in 1998. He supervises the Sergeants, Detectives and Communications Supervisor.  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. Leininger serves on the Ogle-Lee Crime Stoppers Board. 

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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. In 2019, he became a graduate of Northwestern university’s School of Police Staff and Command.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
Luisa Nambo

Dispatcher Nambo joined the department in 2003. She is certified in LEADS, advanced law enforcement and fire dispatch, 911 dispatch, EMD, Domestic violence Active Attack Integrated Response, active shooter, suicide intervention, CPR, AED, On-Star, Homeland Security, Ogle County Siren Operations, On-Star and 911 Liability.  She has advanced strangulation prevention training, Pipeline Emergency Response, Hazmat and incident command. Luisa is  bilingual.

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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. He is currently the SRO at Rochelle Middle School and is a certified Safety Seat Tech.

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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 2019, 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.  He is also a Field Training Officer.

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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
Cory Beck

Dispatacher Beck joined the Department in 2004. She is a training officer and certified LEADS operator along with 911 Dispatch, Incident Command, Pipeline Emergency Response, Hazmat, IL-Tert, strangulation, active shooter, stress identification, 911 liability and domestic violence. She is CPR, AED certified along with On-Star, advanced law enforcement and fire dispatch, EMD and TTY. 

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Dispatcher
Robin Olszewski

Dispatcher Olszewski joined the Department in 2007. He is certified in LEADS, advanced law enforcement and fire, EMD, CPR, AED, 911 Dispatch, hostage negotiations, active shooter, domestic violence and suicide intervention. He also has received specialized training in severe weather spotter training along with Ogle County Siren Operations.  He is also a Certified Child Safety Technician.

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Dispatcher
Cassie Rogers

Dispatcher Rogers joined the department in 2013. She is certified in LEADS, advance law enforcement and fire dispatch, 911 dispatch, MD, CPR, AED, On-STAR and TTY along with Ogle County siren operations, IL-Tert and has received severe weather spotter training.   Cassie is also a certified Child Safety Seat Technician.

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Dispatcher
Trevor Owen

Dispatcher Owen joined the Department in 2015. He is certified in LEADS, advanced law enforcement and fire dispatch, 911 dispatch, hostage negotiations, active shooter, suicide intervention, EMD, CPR, AED, On-Star and TTY.  He has received training with Ogle County siren Operations and severe weather spotter.

Trevor is also a part time Police Officer with  Kirkland and Genoa and currently attending PTI. 

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Dispatcher
Senada Ajvazi

Dispatcher Ajvazi joined the Department in 2015. She is certified in LEADS, advanced law enforcement and fire dispatch, EMD, CPR, AED, On-Star, TTY, 911 dispatch, along with Ogle County Siren Operations.  Ajvazi has also received specialized training in strangulation and severe weather spotter training.

Dispatcher
Alison Owen

Dispatcher Own returned to our Department part-time in 2018 and is now Full-Time.  She is certified in LEADS, advanced law enforcement dispatch, fire dispatch, EMD, 911 Disptach, CPR, AED, On-Star, TTY and Ogle County Siren Operations.  She has also received specialized training in strangulation.  

 

 

 

 

Dispatcher
Abby Young

Dispatcher Young joined the Department in 2019 part time and in 2020 went full time.  She is certified in LEADS, advanced law enforcement and fire, EMD, 911 Dispatch, CPR, AED, On-Star along with Ogle County Siren Operations and severe weather.