The Hawthorn Woods Village Board has selected a 30-year veteran of the Illinois State Police to serve as its new police chief.
Michael J. Sliozis, 52, of Libertyville, who has served as the village’s interim chief since August, is expected to assume his permanent duties at the next Village Board meeting Dec. 13, village officials said. Sliozis replaces former Chief William Urry, who left in August to head up the Lake Zurich Police Department.
Sliozis said his contract with the village is for $63,000.
Before retiring from the state police in December 1998, Sliozis served as patrol commander on the tollways and as a regional spokesperson for a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration seat-belt program. After his retirement, he conducted media-relations training seminars for law enforcement at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Glynco, Ga.
In his new position Sliozis hopes to establish a pension plan for the department’s eight full-time officers, increase the size of the force through budgetary adjustments and/or federal and state grants, and to increase officers’ salaries.
“Our officers are paid less than the average in the county,” said Sliozis, adding that he believes a better salary and benefit package will slow turnover woes that have plagued the department.
Based on his years patrolling the state’s tollways, Sliozis also plans to place increased emphasis on the enforcement of seat-belt laws.
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“I’ve learned that it’s the single most effective way to prevent injury (in motor vehicle accidents),” Sliozis said.