The Centralia Police Department has announced two promotions in the wake of the retirement resignation of Lieutenant Todd Hempen.
Police Chief Greg Dodson has announced Administrative Sergeant Steve Whritenour is being promoted to Lieutenant and Patrolman Ryan Bundy is being promoted to Sergeant. Both will be sworn in to their new positions on Monday, December 13th, at Centralia City Hall.
Whritenour joined the department in January 2004, was promoted to sergeant in March 2017 and administrative sergeant in March2020.
Bundy joined the department in July 2014 and became a field training officer in September 2020.
Dodson has also announced starting Friday the Police Department will begin accepting applications for a Lateral Transfer List for 45 days. The goal is to use the top candidate off that list to replace Hempen. Dodson reports some interest has been expressed by officers in transferring to the department. Officers who have two years of full time police employment in Illinois are eligible to apply. Dodson says candidates will be given a test on law enforcement knowledge before an
eligibility list is finalized.
Dodson reports five candidates are set to begin Police Academy Training in January to fill the five other openings in the department. By the time all testing was done, the list of applicants created last August will be exhausted.
Meanwhile, the Centralia Fire Department is preparing to hire three new fulltime firefighters. Fire Chief John Lynch says a Captain and two Lieutenants have
announced their intent to retire between January and March. The names are not being released until the retirements are finalized. In addition to three new hires, the retirements will result in one promotion to Captain and three promotions to lieutenants.
