05/15/2026
FEATURED FINALIST: Palos Heights Police Department
The Palos Heights Police Department has long maintained a strong commitment to professional development, leadership, and continued education. Although smaller in size, the Department has consistently prioritized investing in its personnel through advanced training opportunities and a robust tuition reimbursement program that encourages officers to pursue higher education. Today, a majority of Palos Heights officers possess graduate degrees in Public Administration, Criminal Justice, or Law Enforcement-related fields from accredited universities throughout the region.
Leadership development through the Northwestern University Center for Public Safety (NUCPS) has become a cornerstone of the Department’s philosophy. Newly promoted first-line supervisors regularly attend the NUCPS Supervision of Police Personnel course, while officers promoted to Sergeant are enrolled in the prestigious School of Police Staff and Command program. The Department views these programs as critical tools in developing ethical, forward-thinking leaders who are prepared to meet the evolving challenges of modern policing.
Deputy Chief John Parnitzke exemplifies the Department’s commitment to leadership excellence. Deputy Chief Parnitzke attended all three Northwestern University Center for Public Safety management and leadership programs. During his attendance at the School of Police Staff and Command, he served as Class President for Class #500 and was selected by his peers to receive the Frank Kreml Leadership Award. He later completed all three NUCPS leadership courses and earned the distinguished NUCPS Executive Leadership Award.
Former Palos Heights Sergeant Gerard Wodka, who now serves as Deputy Chief of the Willowbrook Police Department, also demonstrated the Department’s tradition of excellence while attending Northwestern’s School of Police Staff and Command. Wodka served as Class President for Class #542 and was similarly honored with the Frank Kreml Leadership Award, selected by his classmates for his leadership and professionalism.
The Elevate Blue Scholarship would help the Palos Heights Police Department continue its longstanding tradition of developing exceptional leaders through Northwestern University Center for Public Safety programs while lessening the financial burden on the Department and taxpayers.
