Woodstock Police Department fills deputy chief position with internal hire

WOODSTOCK – The Woodstock Police Department's former Detective Sgt. Jeffrey Parsons has been promoted to deputy police chief.

The promotion was one of several made after former Woodstock Police Chief Robert Lowen retired and former Deputy Police Chief John Lieb filled his position.

Parsons is in his 20th year with the Woodstock police, and he has served in a variety of roles, from patrol officer to school resource officer to detective.

"It's made it easier to transition to my new position, understanding the way the other divisions operate," Parsons said.

He first started as a police officer in 1995 at the Maywood Police Department, and he came to Woodstock in February 1997.

"I've explored opportunities to go into a bigger department, but ... I like the vision and mission the Woodstock Police Department holds. You’re not just a number, you're a person," Parsons said.

His annual salary will be $107,000, Lieb said. He and Parsons still are looking for someone to fill the detective sergeant position.

George Kopulos was promoted from police detective to patrol sergeant, and Jeremy Mortimer was promoted from school resource officer to police detective, Lieb said. Paul Farnum has been hired as a patrolman, bringing the department back up to 37 sworn police officers, Lieb said.

Lieb said he conducted an internal selection process after realizing the depth of the leadership core within the department.

He and Parsons plan to focus on updating and renewing all of the department's general orders, policies and procedures, as well as reorganizing the command structure and navigating the dispatch consolidation.

All of the newly promoted and hired officers will be sworn in at the next Woodstock City Council meeting, which will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Woodstock City Hall, 121 W. Calhoun St., Lieb said. The public is invited to a reception after the swearing in at Stage Left Cafe, 125 E. Van Buren St.