Homewood trustees recognized one promotion and two retirements from the police department during their regular meeting Tuesday, Jan. 10.
Dennis Leaks was promoted to sergeant. His father, Dennis Leaks Sr., pinned his new badge on his uniform after he took the oath of office.
Mayor Rich Hofeld noted that Leaks Jr. got his start with the village as an intern.
“Some of these people have known me from the very beginning since I started in municipal government,” Leaks said, referring to the police officers in the audience. “I started as an intern and came back as a full time employee. A lot of people have helped me even in ways you don’t realize along the way.”
Homewood Police Department while his father, Dennis Leaks Sr.,
looks on. (Eric Crump/H-F Chronicle)
Leaks has served as a Homewood police officer since 2015. He has been a patrol officer, acting watch commander and field training officer. He worked for the South Holland Police Department from 2012 to 2015. He is a captain in the U.S. Army Reserve.
He has a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s degree in public administration.
Leaks will fill the sergeant position left open by the retirement of Sgt. Darren Easter.
of Trustees meeting on Jan. 10. (Eric Crump/H-F Chronicle)
Easter was honored by the board for his service to the village. He joined the Homewood Police Department in 2008 after serving with the Crestwood department.
Easter served in the HPD Criminal Investigations Unit as a tactical officer from 2012 to 2016, when he was promoted to sergeant.
He also served as a firearms instructor, as the department’s range master and as a rapid deployment and use of force instructor.
from Mayor Rich Hofeld. (Eric Crump/H-F Chronicle)
The resolution approved by the board noted, “Darren Easter has been a leader who is respected and held in high esteem by his friends, professional peers and members of the community for conducting himself and representing the village of Homewood with the utmost concern for fairness, service and professionalism.”
Easter thanked Hofeld, the board and his colleagues in the police department. Then he turned to Leaks.
“You’re wearing my badge. Keep that thing shiny and keep it up to par,” he said with a smile.
trustees recognized him for his service. (Eric Crump/H-F Chronicle)
Police Chief Denise McGrath noted that Easter would continue serving the department in a part-time capacity.
Hofeld and the board also honored Paul Neitzel with a resolution on his retirement. He was not present at the meeting.
Neitzel joined the department on June 18, 2001. He previously worked for the Glenwood and Sauk Village police departments.
In Homewood, he served on the Criminal Investigation Unit for nine years. He also served as a member of the South Suburban Major Crimes Task Force and as an investigator with the Suburban Major Accident Reconstruction Team.
The resolution also noted that Neitzel received numerous letters of appreciation and commendations from the department, residents, local businesses and other police agencies during his career.
His retirement was effective Dec. 8, 2022.
