EL Police and Fire Officers Congratulated on Promotions

Above, from left: Lieutenant Pat Greathouse, Chief Randy Talifarro, and Captain Mark Koonter of ELFD.

East Lansing’s Fire and Police Departments are celebrating the promotions of their officers. Three newly-promoted officers were presented by their chiefs at last week’s City Council meeting.

Police Chief Larry Sparkes introduced Captain Chad Connelly to the Council, explaining that Connelly’s career with the ELPD started twenty years ago, in 1998, when he was hired as police officer.

Connelly then rose through the ranks with a promotion to Sergeant in 2012, Lieutenant in 2016, and finally to Captain, this August. Connelly has served in the K9 unit both as a handler and as a supervisor, and has also served as a Detective Sergeant and Detective Lieutenant.

“When I looked at Chad’s education it was very impressive,” said Chief Sparkes.

Connelly holds a master’s degree in Public Administration from Central Michigan University, and a graduate certificate in Human Resource Management from Central Michigan University, in addition to bachelor’s degree from Lake Superior State. He is also a graduate of and now teacher at the School of Staff and Command at Michigan State University.

Below: ELPD Captain Chad Connelly and Chief Larry Sparkes

Sparkes also praised Connelly’s involvement with community outreach and the Police Athletic League.

“He’s a good cop, a great supervisor and an even better person,” Sparkes concluded.

Fire Chief Randy Talifarro started his half of the presentation with a friendly jibe, telling Police Captain Connelly that, if he had scored a little higher, he could have served in the Fire Department. Talifarro then presented Captain Mark Koonter and Lieutenant Pat Greathouse to the Council.

Koonter has worked with the ELFD for nearly twenty years, and recently ran the Chicago Marathon to raise money for charity.

Greathouse was promoted to Lieutenant after ten years in the department, which he joined as a career change after working as a machinist.

Talifarro complimented both men on their involvement within the department, saying they were “very involved, doing more than is required of them.” Talifarro said that it was important to him to have leaders in place throughout the Fire Department, “and I think that’s true of each of these individuals.”

“They’ve been outstanding employees and exemplify what we would like to have in the East Lansing Fire Department,” Talifarro concluded.

Photos by Alice Dreger.