At its Sept. 12 Board meeting, La Grange Park swore in a new police officer to fill a departmental vacancy.
Matthew Armenta, originally hired in January, began his full-time duties as a probationary officer, effective September 6.
“This is my least favorite thing, public speaking,” he said, drawing laughs from the audience. “This is just a phenomenal town. As a local kid, I grew up in the area. I was very familiar with La Grange Park. I went to school in La Grange Park, I went to Brook Park, and spent many, many days just hanging out in the area. It’s a great honor to be here.”
Armenta spent the first quarter of this year at the Suburban Law Enforcement Academy (SLEA) at the College of DuPage, from which he graduated in April.
He then completed the 12-week Field Training Program in the La Grange Park department, and will be assigned to solo patrol on the afternoon shift.
Armenta grew up in the area, graduating from Riverside-Brookfield High School, after which he earned a BA in Criminal Justice from Illinois State University in Normal.
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He also worked for a time in the private sector as a private investigator.
After the meeting, Police Chief Tim Contois indicated that the department had three additional hires currently in police academies and another in Field Training.
The next La Grange Park Village Board meeting will be 7:30 p.m., Oct. 10, in the Village Hall Board Room, 447 N. Catherine Ave.