Huntley Police Department adds two new sergeants to better serve the community

HUNTLEY – At the Jan. 13 Village Board meeting, Huntley Police Chief Robert Porter introduced attendees to the two police officers that would be sworn in to their new rank.

Porter began by sharing some background information on newly appointed Sergeants Tim Heagney and Ryan Gregorio.

Heagney received his academy training at the Suburban Law Enforcement Academy (SLEA) and has been employed with the Huntley Police Department since March 2012, according to Porter.

Before his promotion, Heagney was assigned to the Patrol Services Bureau as a patrol officer where “he served as an Officer-in-Charge (OIC) and Field Training Officer (FTO),” said Porter.

Additionally, Heagney has completed training for certification as a juvenile officer, basic evidence technician, basic accident investigator, and in Crisis Intervention (CIT).

Porter explained that Heagney had completed a temporary assignment as a detective in the Criminal Investigations Division in 2014, while also serving on the Community Response Team from February 2015 to October 2016.

Currently, Heagney is assigned to the McHenry County Chiefs of Police Honor Guard, as well as serves on the board of the Huntley Police Pension Fund. He is also an active advisor to the department’s Explorers program for teens interested in a career in law enforcement.

“Sergeant Heagney obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from Loyola University in Chicago, and as a member of the Army ROTC program, earned a commission as an officer in December 2010,” said Porter. “Sergeant Heagney is currently completing a Masters of Public Administration [degree] from American Military University. Sergeant Heagney continues to serve in the Illinois Army National Guard where he holds the rank of Major. He was deployed to Kuwait in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (Spartan Shield) from late 2020 to mid-2021”

Following Heagney’s introduction and swearing-in, the new sergeant got the opportunity to say a few words.

“To the Village Board, Mr. [Dave] Johnson, Chief Porter, I want to thank you so much for this opportunity to continue to serve the village in a position of greater responsibility. To Sam, my parents, thank you for dealing with the schedule and the stress of being the parents of a police officer and the wife of a police officer,” said Heagney. “To mom and dad, thank you for always supporting my goals and aspirations. To my fellow law enforcement officers, thank you for all that you do, for all the wisdom that you have shared with me, and I look forward to continuing working with you to provide the best level of service to our citizens.”

As for Sergeant Gregorio, Porter explained that he has been employed with the Huntley Police Department since June 2015. Gregorio received a Bachelor of Science degree in Management and an Associates of Science degree in Aviation from Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

He graduated from the Illinois State Police Academy in 2009 and worked for the McHenry Police Department for six years before becoming a Huntley police officer.

Gregorio worked as a patrol officer and was subsequently assigned to being the Huntley Community School District 158 school resource officer, where he served in that position at Huntley High School and at Katherine Leggee Elementary School for six years.

While serving as a school resource officer, Gregorio coordinated and ran the LEAD the Way program and the Huntley High School Summer Forum.

Gregorio is currently a member of the Kane County Major Crimes Task Force Evidence Team and a member of the Huntley Police Department’s Innovations Team.

“Law enforcement is one of the toughest careers and toughest professions at this point in time in this history of the United States, but we’re all blessed to work in such an honorable field and have such a great community that supports law enforcement,” said Gregorio while also sharing his gratitude to his friends and family. “From the village employees to its citizens, Huntley is an amazing place to work. So, thank you to the citizens of Huntley and the people I work with. Coming from a law enforcement family, I saw the support my mom and family gave to my father and I’d like to say a special thank you to my parents, friends, and family.”

Porter thanked the Village Board and other attendees for their time in welcoming their newest sergeants.

“Both of these men do an outstanding job for us and I have no doubt that they’re going to be great sergeants,” added Porter.