The Washington Police Department's new deputy chiefs were sworn in at this week's city council meeting.
Steve Smith and Brian Simpson, each a former Officer of the Year in the department, are only the third and fourth people to hold the deputy chief position since it was created in 2007.
This is the first time the department has had two deputy chiefs in its command structure. Smith has the title of deputy chief of operations. Simpson is deputy chief of administration.
The Washington City Council approved having two deputy chiefs last month after it was requested by Chief Jeff Stevens. He was the department's deputy chief from 2015-2025, after Don Volk held the job from 2007-2015.
Stevens asked for the change because of the increasing complexity and training requirements in law enforcement. He praised his new seconds-in-command after they were sworn in by City Clerk Valeri Brod.
"They have an organizational mindset," he said. "Neither one of them talks about what's good for them. It's always what's good for the department and good for the City of Washington. These men are true servant leaders."
Smith joined the Washington Police Department in 2008 and moved up through the ranks to detective sergeant before he became deputy chief. He was named the department's Officer of the Year in 2011.
He's served as a task force officer with Homeland Security investigations since 2016 and previously served on the Illinois Attorney General's Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. He's also done specialized training in crime scene investigation, mobile and computer forensics, and crimes against children.
A native of Piedmont, S.C., Smith played college baseball at Anderson (S.C.) University.
Simpson, a native of Aledo, joined the Washington Police Department in 2013. He was the department's Officer of the Year in 2018; he was promoted to sergeant in 2019.
He developed an early interest in public service through the Mercer County Sheriff's Office Explorer Program.
Finally, a facility needs study
In action this week, the council:
• Approved a not-to-exceed cost of $99,500 for Dewberry Architects of Peoria to begin work on a city-wide facility needs study.
A need for the study was first identified during the 2020-21 city fiscal year budget process, but because of "multiple turnovers in the city administrator position, the study was delayed and never formally launched," City Engineer Dennis Carr wrote in a memo to the council.
"Since that time, space constraints and operational inefficiencies have become more pronounced," Carr wrote. "These issues are expected to intensify as staffing levels, service expectations, technology improvements and regulatory obligations continue to evolve. Without a coordinated, data-driven plan, future facility decisions risk being reactive, piecemeal, and more costly over time."
• Approved a tax increment financing [TIF] agreement with developer Cliff Vieira, who purchased the former Brunk's Screen Printing & Brandy's Bee Boutique at 122 N. Main St., on the downtown square, last year. Vieira intends to create two 2,000-square-foot business spaces in the 4,000-square-foot building.
Vieira will receive three annual TIF payments of slightly more than $87,780 to help cover the approximately $383,400 cost of renovations.
The third payment is contingent upon the city receiving proof that Vieira has at least one signed lease from a tenant that will generate at least $5,000 in annual home rule sales tax revenue.
• Approved appointing City Administrator Jeff Fiegenschuh as the deputy liquor commissioner for a three-year term. Mayor Lilija Stevens is the liquor commissioner.
• Proclaimed March as "Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month" in the city. Brod, who lost her mother to the central nervous system disease, read the proclamation at the council meeting. About 50 Washington residents have the disease.
Sale closing scheduled for new event spaces
Here are highlights of department heads' reports this week to the council:
• A closing is tentatively scheduled for mid-April on the sale of the buildings at 120 and 126 Walnut Street, that formerly were owned by the developers of the Tangled Roots Craft Beer & Kitchen. Each building's planned use is an event space.
• A building permit was issued for a Get Your Motivated [GYM] workout facility on North Cummings Lane.
• Police department members John Williams, Camille Imhoff and Ryan Hunsinger received lifesaving awards; Henry Perilles and Ashley Kendrick received meritorious service awards; and Sherry Guimond received a professional staff excellence award at the inaugural Tazewell County Association of Chiefs and Police awards ceremony. Det. Steve Hinken was nominated for investigator of the year.
• A $1,500 city tourism grant was awarded to the Washington BRIDGE Education Foundation for its sixth annual Paint the Path fundraiser, scheduled for June 20 on the recreation trail between Five Points Washington and the Washington Fire Station.
