Village of Wilmette salutes retiring sergeants and their 60 years of service

A standing-room-only audience at Wilmette Village Hall on Tuesday evening as the Wilmette Police Department turned out in mass to celebrate two retiring brothers in blue, as well as the promotion of another to sergeant.

Village leaders recognized Sgts. Roger Ockrim and Ed Trage for their combined 63 years of service to the Wilmette PD.

“Tonight, we gather to recognize and celebrate two extraordinary careers and two remarkable men,” Wilmette Police Chief Michael Robinson said during the Village Board meeting on May 12.

Trage was hired in 1991, while Ockrim joined the department in 1998. Both officers, according to proclamations read by Village President Senta Plunkett, served as patrol officers, patrol sergeants and detectives.

Within the department, Ockrim served as field training program coordinator, community relations officer, a DARE instructor and with the department’s honor guard.

The proclamation also noted that Ockrim served on the Northern Illinois Police Alarm System as a hostage negotiator, where he “successfully negotiated over 50 hostage situations and (was) awarded a commendation for his efforts.” It was also noted that Ockrim ran the department’s peer support program.

Trage was a major crimes investigator on the North Regional Major Crimes Task Force and a defensive tactics instructor within the Wilmette Police Department.

According to his proclamation, he “placed a high emphasis on traffic safety throughout the career,” which included being recognized by the Alliance Against Intoxicated Motorists more than 10 times, reportedly “consistently leading the department in DUI arrests.” He was also Officer of the Year in 1993, and managed a program that focused on reducing traffic accident injuries through increased enforcement of seatbelt and speed laws.

Robinson praised both officers for being “pillars of this agency.”

“These decades were spent answering calls, solving problems, mentoring officers, protecting residents and serving with honor,” Robinson said. “It’s impossible to measure the impact they’ve had on the organization. Their influence can be seen in every corner of the department. From recruitment and training to patrol operations to special assignments, Ed and Roger have shaped this department to the outstanding organization it is today.”

He went on to say that the retiring officers have “led by example, they’ve earned the respect of their coworkers, and they’ve set the standard for those who follow after them.”

“Their positive influence has touched every employee, including myself, in this department,” Robinson said. “While tonight marks the end of their law enforcement careers, their legacy here will remain. The lessons they taught, the professionalism they demonstrated, and the example they set will continue to guide this department for years to come.”

He thanked both officers on behalf of the Wilmette Police Department, their colleagues and the community.

Both officers briefly spoke as well, thanking their families and village officials.

Ockrim said working for the Wilmette Police Department was “hitting the professional lottery.”

“Since 1998 when I came here to today, it’s been transformative, both in the department and within the village,” he said, before turning to Robinson and thanking him for being a reason for that.

Trage thanked the board “for seeing something in me years ago to let me be an employee here and work here for all these years.”

“And I want to thank everybody that’s in the building from the police department,(from the) past and up to today,” he said. “You guys have made my career tremendous. I appreciate every single one of you and you don’t know what you mean to me.”

Plunkett congratulated the two officers on their retirement.

“Being here in this room, I think it just really makes us proud of our police department and everything that you bring to us,” she said. “We are very grateful for the dedicated individuals we have working for us and keeping us safe.”

New sergeant takes the oath

In addition to the retirements, Robinson also administered the oath of office to Officer Jon Sokolnik, who was promoted to sergeant.

Robinson said Sokolnik joined the Wilmette Police Department in 2013. In that time, he’s served as a detective, evidence technician, field training officer, firearms instructor and a defensive tactics instructor. He’s also served on the North Regional Major Crimes Task Force as a major crimes investigator.

Additionally, he also received the Chief’s Meritorious Award “for going above the requirements of his normal assignments,” according to Robinson.

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