Deputy Police Chief Sam Pettineo will retire Friday after serving the Evanston Police Department for 32 years.
Community members are invited to wish him well at his retirement party at 3:30 p.m. at the Fire Department Administration Building, 909 Lake Street.
During his career, Chief Pettineo held positions in every facet of the department from street patrol, to criminal investigator, youth officer, school resource officer, community policing specialist, Problem Solving Team, and Office of Professional Standards.
Chief Pettineo’s career began in 1976; in October 1996, he was promoted to sergeant; in December 2002, he was promoted to lieutenant; in January 2004, to commander; and in July 2006, he was promoted to his current rank of deputy chief.
In conjunction with leading members of the Evanston Police Department, Chief Pettineo has also been a lead trainer/consultant for the Institute for Public Safety Partnerships, University of Illinois, Chicago, a joint community/police training endeavor funded by the Department of Justice.
Chief Pettineo’s diverse educational background has made him a very sought after trainer and consultant: master of arts, Leadership Studies from Lewis University; bachelor of arts, Criminal/Social Justice from Lewis University; graduate, senior management Institute for Police from PERF; graduate School of Police Staff and Command from Northwestern University; and certification from Juvenile Officers Institute from the University of Minnesota.
His accomplishments, awards and commendations include: service commendation; unit citation, Field Training Program; and multiple commendations for valor and honorable mentions; certificate of recognition for overall police performance, all from the Evanston Police Department; meritorious service in law enforcement from the American Society for Industrial Security; and meritorious service in law enforcement and outstanding police performance from the Combined Counties Police Association.