Rockton Police Department welcomes new Deputy Chief

By Marianne Mueller

REPORTER

Rockton welcomed a new Deputy Chief at the Nov. 21 Board of Trustees meeting.

Rockton Police Chief Matt Hollinger thanked the Rockton Village Board for their continued support. He recognized everyone who was in attendance in support of Sgt. Justin Jobst’s promotion.

Hollinger gave special recognition to former Rockton Police Chief Steve Dickson who was at the meeting in support of Jobst.

“With Chief Dickson’s retirement a little over a year ago I have been in the office by myself. No longer will I have to talk to myself, I no longer have the best hair in the office either, “Hollinger jokingly said

Hollinger added, “We are rebuilding. Since Chief Dickson retired a few sergeants have also retired. We have hired five new people including three new sergeants since he left.”

Hollinger announced that Officer Cure will be retiring as Hononegah Community High School’s Resource Officer. Officer Cure has also been with the Rockton Police Department for over 20 years.

“We have done a lot of work, and we still have a lot of work to do,” Hollinger said.

We have made a lot of progress and plan to make even more progress. I know that Justin is onboard to make all of this happen too.”

Hollinger said, “Justin Jobst has been a super officer, and a great individual. He has been a great friend and peer to everyone and we certainly are going to appreciate his involvement moving forward.”

Hollinger gave pieces of Jobst’s background and accomplishments in law enforcement, including him earning countless awards and his work in field training, all of which are a large part of what makes him fitting for this position.

Jobst’s children A.J. And Lilly pinned new badges on his uniform before Rockton Village Clerk Christina Stewart officially swore in Justin Jobs as the new Deputy Chief of the Rockton Police Department.

Following Jobst taking the oath of office he thanked the Village President, the Village Board, fellow officers, family and friends.

“I joined the Rockton Police Department in June of 2003 during which time I learned the importance of such things as integrity and loyalty. I promise to remain honest and truthful to you all, and I promise to remain loyal,” Jobst said.

“I will never forget the fact that they took a chance on a guy like me. I was just a 22-year-old kid from Elgin who had just recently left the Navy.”

“Though my accomplishments in law enforcement may be notable, I can never forget the importance of my family,” Jobst said.

Jobst gave a loving and special recognition to his wife Susan of over 21 years and their children A.J. And Lilly. He also thanked his parents and stated how much he values their strong work ethic.

Jobst’s duties will include assisting the Police Chief in planning, organizing, and directing the patrol, investigative, administrative and internal affairs.

Additionally he will support service activities of the department and assume responsibility for the department in the Chief’s absence.

Prior to becoming an officer in Rockton Jobst served in the U.S. Navy in 1998, serving four years onboard the nuclear aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson, (CVN-70) which was stationed out of Bremerton, Washington. He was deployed to Operation Southern Watch in 1998 and Operation Enduring Freedom in 2001. Jobst served as Quartermaster (QM) second class petty officer(E-5) in the Navigational Department and was the ships Master Helmsman during both deployments.

After leaving the Navy Jobst studied Criminal Justice at Rock Valley College.

Sgt. Jobst joined Officer Penny Cure in 2003 at the Illinois State Police Academy.

Sgt. Jobst was said by Hollinger to have caught on rather quickly and became a very proactive officer with traffic enforcement.

For many years in a row Jobst has led the department in DUI arrests and received certificates of appreciation from the Alliance Against Intoxicated Motorists on multiple occasions.

In 2012 Sgt. Jobst was presented with the HERO Award in Springfield, Ill. By the Mothers Against Drunk Driving, (MADD), for his enforcement efforts.

From information that has been gathered Sgt. Jobst removed roughly 250 intoxicated motorists from the streets of Rockton.

In 2006 Sgt. Jobst won the Rockton Lions “Officer of the Year award.”

On Tuesday evening, Sept.19, 2017 Sergeant Jobst was presented with a lifesaving award by former Police Chief Steve Dickson. After receiving a call officers arrived at a woman threatening to jump off of the Blackhawk Bridge. Jobst’s quick actions saved her life as he picked the woman up and over the railing onto the roadway where she would be safe.

Sgt. Jobst has assisted as a field training officer and has trained roughly over 25 new police officers. Other than three of the department’s current staff, Sgt. Jobst has trained all of them.

Jobst is a member of ILEAS, which is a law enforcement team in Illinois. ILEAS has been around for the past 12 years.

Prior assignments included assisting Chicago Law Enforcement with protests on two separate occasions.

Sgt. Jobst has been a member of the Northern IL. Police Memorial Honor Guard for the past 19 years.

On Sept. 15, 2017 Jobst was promoted to the rank of Sgt. in a moving ceremony held at the Old Stone Church. He was sworn in by former Rockton Police Chief Steve Dickson that night. At that time Deputy Chief Hollinger was Jobst’s first time Supervisor.

He quickly became a Field Training Sgt., a General Training Supervisor and he had most recently been in charge of the departments Incident Management Systems.

Jobst has also participated in past Law Enforcement Torch Runs and at Polar Plunges, and has also taken active roles in supporting the Rockton Police Association and the Blues and BBQ’s event.

Rockton’s new Deputy Chief Justin Jobst is certain to excel as he brings a wealth of experience and knowledge into his position.