SOUTH SUBURBAN EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM (SSERT)
SSERT is the regional emergency response team in the South Suburban area. It is currrently made up of approximately sixty-four (64) officers respresenting twenty-nine (29) governmental entities. Overseeing the team, in an administrative capacity, is the Board of Directors made up of Chiefs of Police from participating municipalities. The current Board members are:
President David Palmer - Commander - Country Club Hills PD
Vice President - Chief Mike O'Connell - Tinley Park PD
Treasurer - Chief Vince Schavone - Midlothian PD
Secretary - Chief Tom Fleming - Park Forest PD
Director - Chief Warren Millsaps - South Holland PD
Director - Chief Norb Schlesser - Thornton PD
Director - Chief Bruce Radowicz - Burbank PD
Director - Chief Dan Martin - New Lenox PD
The operational command personnel who lead the team in the field include the following:
Commander Tom Johnson - Mateson PD
Coordinator Phil Bukovic - Lynwood PD
Coordinator Patrick Siemsen - Homewood PD
Coordinator Todd Koster - South Holland PD
Ex-Officio Officer: Chief Tom Folliard - Hazel Crest PD
Ex-Officio Officer: Chief Greg Baker - Riverdale PD
Ex-Officio Officer: Commander Tom Johnson - Matteson PD
Agencies who currently belong to SSERRT include the following:
Blue Island, Burbank, Burnham, Calumet City, Chicago Heights, Country Club Hills, Dolton, East Hazel Crest, Flossmoor, Glenwood, Hazel Crest, Homewood, Lynwood, Matteson, Markham, Midlothian, New Lenox, Oak Forest, Park Forest, Posen, Richton Park, Riverdale, Sauk Village, South Holland, Summit, Thornton, Tinley Park, Will County Forest Preserve District, Willow Springs.
Also, there are seven (7) paramedics and four (4) crisis negotiators who belong to the team.