HPD Justin Blackburn oath IMG_1827_2019-05-14_web
Local News

Janich leaves HPD for East Hazel Crest, Johnson promoted

The Homewood village board approved three police staffing changes at its May 14 meeting, including the retirement of Roy Janich, who retired on May 2 after more than 30 years with the department.

  Village officials congratulate Roy Janich, right, on his 
  retirement after serving for three decades with the 
  Homewood Police Department.
(Provided photo by 
  Jim Gannon)
 

The Homewood village board approved three police staffing changes at its May 14 meeting.

 
Roy Janich retired on May 2 from the Homewood Police Department. He’ll become deputy chief of police in East Hazel Crest. 
 
  Tom Johnson takes the oath 
  of office after being promoted
  to sergeant.
(Provided photo
  by Jim Gannon)
 

Janich has been with HPD since 1988. He’s been a sergeant in Homewood since 2003.  The board passed a resolution honoring him for his 30 years with the village.

 
“It’s been a wonderful place to work,” Janich said. “You’ve got a great police department, as you all know. All these people out here are the best.” 

Janich’s retirement left a gap in the department hierarchy.

 
Thomas Johnson was promoted to sergeant. He’s been with HPD since 2009. Before that, he worked for Glenwood police for seven years. 
 
  Justin Blackburn, right, 
  is sworn in as Homewood’s
  newest police officer by
  Judge Adrienne Davis.

  (Provided photo by Jim  
  Gannon)
 

Johnson has been a detective with the department since 2010, and has served as acting watch commander and field training officer for Homewood. He’s a member of both the South Suburban Major Crimes Task Force and the Suburban Major Accident Reconstruction Team. 
 

His promotion left an opening on the department. Justin Blackburn was hired as a police officer May 13 and sworn in at the board meeting.
 
Blackburn is a 2013 Homewood Flossmoor high school and 2017 Western Illinois University graduate. He spent 400 hours as an intern with the Homewood Police Department to fulfill the requirement for his law enforcement and justice administration bachelor’s degree. 
 
Blackburn has worked as an auxiliary officer in Tinley Park and as a part-time officer in Blue Island. He was hired as a full-time officer in Chicago Heights last August.

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