Retiring Homewood Officer Poninski Honored

"This one is truly bittersweet."

Homewood Police Chief Larry Burnson said, acknowledging the retirement of officer Paul Poninski during Tuesday night's Board meeting.

During Poninski's 29-year stretch with the , his specialized duties included motorcycle officer, AR-15 rifle instructor, assistant range master, acting watch commander, public safety committee member and citizens police academy instructor. He was also a member of the South Suburban Emergency Response Team.

In 1985 Poninski made an arrest leading to a burglar ring that was responsible for more than 200 burglaries in Illinois and Indiana. 

“Paul, to me, epitomizes what it means to be a police officer,” Chief Burnson said. “Homewood has really lost a true star.”