Normal PD names Petrilli assistant chief

Steve Petrilli has been with the Normal Police Department since 1999. (Photo courtesy Normal PD)

By WJBC Staff

NORMAL – Normal Police Chief Rick Bleicher has named a new assistant chief.

Lieutenant Steve Petrilli will be sworn in Friday and will assume command of the operations division.  He replaces Kirk Ijams who has announced his retirement.

Steve began his career with the Normal Police Department in March of 1999.  He worked as a patrol officer until being promoted to Sergeant in 2007.  Steve was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in 2012 and served as a patrol Shift Commander.  

Over the course of his 16-year career with Normal PD, Petrilli has held numerous specialty positions within the department including Field Training Officer, Recruiter, K-9 Handler, Vice Unit Supervisor and Emergency Response Unit Assistant Team Leader.  

Steve Petrilli attended Illinois State University from which he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree.  He has an extensive training background and is also a graduate of the Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command.

Steve and his wife Jodi reside in rural Bloomington and have three sons Andrew (11), Logan (10) and Joey (6).

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…