Orland Park police laud department’s latest graduate
Holly has completed the first graduating class of the nation’s Crisis Response Therapy Canine Certification program, but she wasn’t wearing a cap and gown. That’s because she’s the Orland Park Police Department’s therapy K9 officer.
Her handler, Officer Gordon Przislicki, also graduated from the program, a joint effort of the Cook County Sheriff’s Office and the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board. They were among 11 therapy canine teams from seven Illinois agencies to graduate.
The pair began working together in October 2025 as part of the sheriff’s Tails of Redemption program in which correctional facilities and local animal shelters give shelter dogs a second chance by having inmates teach them basic obedience.
Their training included de-escalation, crisis intervention and trauma-informed response. Holly, now officially certified through the standards board, will work with Przislicki on mental health calls.
Palos Heights police seek votes for training voucher
The community is invited to help the Palos Heights Police Department win a training voucher for an executive leadership program through the Northwestern University Center for Public Safety. Voting must be done by the coming week.
The Palos Heights department was named a finalist for the Elevate Blue Scholarship. Public voting determines which of the six departments will win the voucher. Voting happens online at elevatebluescholarship.com/register-to-vote/.
The department works to provide advanced training opportunities and offers tuition reimbursement to encourage officers to pursue higher education. Many officers now have graduate degrees in criminal justice, public administration or related fields.
Deputy Chief John Parnitzke has completed three programs at NU’s center and served as class president for class #500 while attending the School of Police Staff and Command, as well as being awarded the Frank Kreml Leadership Award by his classmates and eventually earning the Executive Leadership Award.
Willowbrook Police Department Deputy Chief Gerard Wodka, formerly a sergeant with Palos Heights, also attended NU’s School of Police Staff and Command, was president of class #542 and earned the Frank Kreml Leadership Award.
Get car seats checked in Palos Park
Parents and others concerned about car seat safety are invited to a free community car seat inspection event from 1 to 3 p.m. May 31 at the Palos Park Metra station, 12200 S. 82nd Ave.
Palos Park Police Department Officer Rebecca Duffy, a certified child passenger safety seat technician, will be on hand to make sure car seats are installed correctly and share current safety recommendations, as well as answer questions. Information is at rduffy@palospark.org.
H-F students get visit from Live Free 999
When Live Free 999 recently brought its annual event “Shatter the Silence: Your Voice Matters” to Homewood-Flossmoor High School, it was a full-circle moment.
The nonprofit mental health organization was founded by Carmela Wallace in honor of her son Jarad “Juice WRLD” HIggins, an H-F graduate and singer who died at age 21 of a drug overdose, having experienced mental health issues and addiction.
While at H-F, Live Free 999 announced it was expanding its partnership with Crisis Text Line, including a new collaboration with the school to build a dedicated localized text code for students. Crisis Text Line offers free, 24/7 text-based mental health support in English and Spanish, with students able to text LF999 to 741741 to get to a volunteer crisis counselor.
As part of the day, students participated in workshops, tai chi, yoga, art therapy and mindfulness sessions, as well as learning about personal support systems. Learn more at livefre999.org.
Metra names Safety Contest winners
Area students had safety on their mind when they entered the 19th annual Safety Contest this spring, putting their imagination to work to educate the public about how to be safe around railroad tracks and crossings.
This year’s theme in the contest, open to children in kindergarten through 12th grade, was “Rail safety is not a game.” Up to $500 in prizes was awarded for original artwork that will be featured in Metra’s 2027 safety calendar and its Saturday/Sunday/holiday passes. First-place winners will be recognized at Metra’s board meeting June 18.
The People’s Choice vote was held on Instagram with winners from each grade competing in categories in the six-county region Metra serves. The public chose favorite posters from the top three from 10 regions represented by a Metra board member. The People’s Choice winner from each region will receive a $500 Amazon gift card and have their work featured in promotional materials. Kazimir Chlebek, Beautiful Earth Education, Homer Glen, won for Will County.
No area children won first place. A second-place winner ($250 Amazon card) was kindergartner Hunter Hofmann, Spencer Trail School in New Lenox. A third-place winner ($100 Amazon gift card) was kindergartner Juana Espinoza Orbe, Cicero West Elementary School, Cicero.
Selective internship programs choose Tinley Park students
Tinley Park High School seniors Peyton Leonhardt and Nadia Mazon will spend the summer doing research internships at nationally recognized laboratories.
Leonhardt was chosen for the Fermilab Program for Research, Innovation and STEM Mentorship, or PRISM, which “introduces students to cutting-edge research in particle physics and related fields,” a news release shared. Fermilab scientists mentor students and provide experiences in physics. She plans to attend Notre Dame as a physics major.
Mazon was selected for the College Bound Research Program at Argonne National Laboratory, which is designed “to provide high-achieving students with hands-on research experience alongside professional scientists and engineers,” per the release. She plans to major in electrical engineering at the University of Illinois Chicago and eventually earn a doctorate while minoring in business.
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