River Forest Clerk Katherine Brand-White swore in the village’s new deputy police chief, Daniel Dhooghe, at a village board meeting March 12. Dhooghe previously served as commander and succeeds Police Chief James O’Shea in the role, after O’Shea was promoted to chief in December.
Dhooghe is a 27-year veteran of the department, starting his police career in River Forest in July 1991. Prior to that, he spent time as a police officer for Triton College. He is married and has two sons. He holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Bellevue University, and a master’s in public administration.
Szczensy repeats as top cop
O’Shea announced Officer Daniel Szczesny as the “2017 Police Officer of the Year” at the March 12 village board meeting.
Fellow officers nominated Szczesny for the award in 2017, which he also received in 2016.
“He has a high-level of self-initiated activity, quality arrests, provides mentoring to other officers and takes on a leadership role,” Chief O’Shea said of Szczesny.
Szczesny started his career at the River Forest Police Department in October 2013. He is a graduate of the University of Illinois, and is currently studying law at John Marshall Law School.
Additionally, he has been recognized by Mothers Against Drunk Driving the last three years for his enforcement efforts against impaired drivers.
CONTACT: ntepper@wjinc.com
