Sheriff Quakenbush promotes 10

(Front row, from left) Sgt. Blaine Mallaber, Cpt. Matt Snively, Lt. Dustin Dixon and Sheriff Dennis Quakenbush. (Back row, from left) Sgt. Mike Gordon, Sgt. Kurt Delong, Lt. Ryan Horine, Sgt. Scott Goff, Sgt. Bryant Orem, Sgt. Dan DeYoung, Sgt. Michael Stanisz and Major John Lowes. (Photo provided by the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office)

A ceremony was held on Friday to recognize and celebrate officers in several divisions of the Sheriff’s Office who were promoted in rank. The promotions were a combination of hard-rank positions accomplished through a competitive testing process and positions appointed by Sheriff Quakenbush. The selection process for promotion consists of written tests, interviews, practical examinations and evaluations, among other factors.

Dustin Dixon was promoted to Merit Lieutenant. Dixon will head the Nights A squad in Patrol. Lt. Dixon has been a K9 deputy for many years and oversees the program as well as the Tactical Tracking Team.

Dan DeYoung was promoted to the rank of Merit Sergeant. DeYoung came to the Sheriff’s Office in 2013 after serving with the Illinois State Police. He is assigned to the Nights A squad and also serves as a firearms instructor and on the Bike Team.

The Reserve Division falls under the Patrol Division and several promotions were appointed in the area. Reserves serve as volunteer deputies to augment Sheriff’s Office full-time staff. Reserves have employment outside the Sheriff’s Office but work numerous hours in volunteer capacities to assist in any ways they can, most often as road deputies.

Matt Snively was appointed Reserve Captain after recently serving as a lieutenant in the division. Snively has been with the Reserve Division for 20 years.

Ryan Horine was appointed Reserve Lieutenant. Horine has served in numerous capacities around the Sheriff’s Office and has been part of the Reserve Division since 2001.

Kurt Delong, Mike Gordon, and Blaine Mallaber were appointed as Reserve Sergeants. The Reserve Division is divided into three squads with a sergeant overseeing each squad. Delong joined the Reserve Division in 2000, Gordon in 2005, and Mallaber 2013.

Scott Goff was promoted to the rank of Detective Sergeant in the Investigations Division. Goff was hired in 2007 and spent his early years in the Patrol Division before moving into Investigations. In addition to his work as a detective, Goff provides Critical Incident Response with the Peer Support Team, is active on the Tactical Tracking Team, and is a certified bike instructor.

Michael Stanisz was promoted to the rank of Corrections Sergeant in the Jail Division. Stanisz has been with Sheriff’s Office since 2013 and been active in numerous ways in the jail. He will be busy as the jail continues to expand.

Bryant Orem was promoted to the rank of Merit Sergeant in the Operations Division where he will oversee Records Management and Data Analysis. Orem was hired in 2008 and served in the Patrol Division and as Public Information Officer among other tasks.