Village Board swears in new police officer, helping replenish ranks La Grange

First responders were on the La Grange Village Board agenda July 11, with a new police officer being sworn in and the approval of a new contract for village firefighters.

Jacob Morrison becomes the latest addition to the La Grange Police Department, joining the force as a probationary officer.

"I'm glad to be here with the department," Morrison said after his swearing in. "I hope to make the department and the village proud."

Morrison earned a bachelor's degree in law enforcement and justice administration from Western Illinois University in 2018. His most recent employment was as a stock clerk at Jewel-Osco.

He graduated July 1 from the Suburban Law Enforcement Academy (SLEA) at the College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, completing a 14-week program; he now begins another 14 weeks of field training with an experienced officer.

"We're very exited to have him," Police Chief Robert Wardlaw said before the swearing-in. "He's going to be a very good fit for La Grange."

Like many police departments, La Grange's is facing challenges in staffing in the modern era, and Wardlaw noted that the department was working to ease any shortages.

"We have four more in the academy (SLEA) now," he said, "and we're looking to hire another one immediately and one by the end of the year."

Current plans are for the department to be short only one officer by February.

"That's what we're working toward," Wardlaw said.

The firefighters contract was approved unanimously and closes out a process that's been ongoing since the beginning of 2021.

"I'm very glad it's done," Chief Terrence Vavra said, noting that the process was delayed somewhat by the COVID-19 pandemic. "This will help us to refocus and move forward."

The contract runs through May 2025 and calls for a 2.5% increase, retroactive to May 1, 2021, another 2.25% May 1, 2022, and 2.5% in May 2023, and 2.25% in May 2024.

Also included in the contract are provisions for the two longest acting captains to be promoted to full captain, and elimination of the choice of a PPO of HMO for health insurance.

The contract's language indicates that the health insurance benefit was eliminated because "it was no longer being utilized." Vavra noted that La Grange firefighters routinely chose to be covered under the village's Blue Cross Blue Shield HMO.

The increases mean that a starting firefighter will make $62,862 (retroactive to May 1, 2021), with one with six years' experience - or steps - making $94,817.

The end year of the contract will see a beginner making $70,581 and one with six years' experience making $101,601.

Lieutenants are paid 5% above the highest step of a firefighter, with new lieutenants earning $99,559 in the first year of the contract and $106,770 after two years.

The last year of the contract calls for new lieutenants to be paid $106,692 and $114,420 after two years.

Captains are not covered under the bargaining agreement.

The board canceled the last board meeting in July and the first in August. The next Village Board meeting will be 7:30 p.m. Aug. 22 at the La Grange Village Hall, 53 S. La Grange Road.

Hank Beckman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.