This obit from a suburban newspaper has to be about Tom, notwithstanding that the dates given for his military service don’t make sense. His age is right, as is the fact that his father was a doctor and he had sisters.
THOMAS W. CERNOCK, 60, FORMER NORTH RIVERSIDE POLICE CHIEF
Thomas William Cernock, a resident of Carmel, Ind. who served as North Riverside's police chief for seven years, died Aug. 15, 2006 at his Indiana home. He was 60.
A U.S. Marines veteran, Mr. Cernock served on Okinawa from 1963-67 and joined the North Riverside Police Department as a patrolman a year later. He progressed through the ranks quickly. In 1976, Mr. Cernock was promoted to sergeant, and in 1980 made lieutenant. Just a year later, he was moved up to deputy chief. He served in that role for less than two months before becoming the department's chief.
Those who worked with Mr. Cernock in the department knew him as an outstanding administrator who was particularly focused on staying on the cutting edge of technology.
"He was instrumental in starting the computer system here," said Sandy Jackowski, who worked under Mr. Cernock for a decade in the Records Department. "He was a hands-on chief."
Current Deputy Chief Tom Tauer, who served as a pallbearer at Mr. Cernock's funeral, said that the chief was also a crime prevention advocate, who pushed for officers to be trained in crime prevention techniques and to communicate regularly with children and seniors.
It was under Mr. Cernock's tenure as chief that North Riverside instituted an annual parade and event at the North Riverside Park Mall, where he also served as a security consultant from 1979 until his retirement as chief in 1988. The event was a vast undertaking, involving police departments from all over Cook County and featuring a variety of crime prevention exhibits.
But organizing complex events was part of Mr. Cernock's nature, according to his then-Deputy Chief Rich Gossling, who became the department's police chief after Mr. Cernock retired. Gossling recalled a large-scale mock train derailment that the North Riverside Police Department staged on the tracks near the mall. The event involved many other law enforcement agencies and mall security. The event took weeks to organize.
"He was the type of person that any department or private industry would be welcome to work with," Gossling said. "He was that organized."
Mr. Cernock also instituted a police officer exchange program involving North Riverside police and police officers from England. The program was a way for the officers to exchange ideas on law enforcement techniques. In addition, he was a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police.
"Tom was always open to new, innovative ideas," Gossling said.
When Mr. Cernock announced his retirement in 1988, it was no surprise that he did so to take on the role as vice president of corporate security for the Simon Property Group of Indianapolis. In 1979, Simon, which owned the North Riverside Park Mall, hired Mr. Cernock as a consultant. He was the company's first home office employee of the year.
According to a release issued by his family, Mr. Cernock loved spending time with his family, as well as camping, sailing and working on multiple train layouts.
"Those who knew him loved him, marveled at his commanding personality and admired his zest for life," the release stated.
Mr. Cernock is survived by his mother, Gertrude Cernock; his wife, Susan Cernock (nee Stejskal); his children, Lisa (Mitch) Thomas, Michael (Robyn) Cernock, Karen Cernock and Lori Cernock; his grandchildren, Rachel Thomas and Brett Thomas; his brother, Robert Cernock; and his sisters, Deborah (James) Burns and Barbara Cernock.
We was preceded in death by his father, Dr. William F. Cernock, and by his daughter, Laura Anne Cernock.
A funeral service was held Aug. 19 at Kuratko Funeral Home/Nosek Family Funeral Directors, North Riverside, which handled arrangements.
END OF OBIT
People who remember Tom from grade school at Longfellow may be amused that he went into police work. He was not, shall we say, the most rule-oriented of children. He was, though, a bright, vibrant guy whose thing was not school.
Some may remember him as a French horn player with the school orchestra.
I had an inkling that he might be in Carmel (an affluent suburb of Indianapolis) in years when I was not far away. I thought about calling him, but never did. I regret that. It would have been fun.
I remember him well! He lived right behind me when we all went to Longfelow. Yes, Tom going into police work was odd! His military dates sound right as he left school in 1963. Wish I would have stayed in touch!
Martin Gottlieb
This obit from a suburban newspaper has to be about Tom, notwithstanding that the dates given for his military service don’t make sense. His age is right, as is the fact that his father was a doctor and he had sisters.
THOMAS W. CERNOCK, 60, FORMER NORTH RIVERSIDE POLICE CHIEF
Thomas William Cernock, a resident of Carmel, Ind. who served as North Riverside's police chief for seven years, died Aug. 15, 2006 at his Indiana home. He was 60.
A U.S. Marines veteran, Mr. Cernock served on Okinawa from 1963-67 and joined the North Riverside Police Department as a patrolman a year later. He progressed through the ranks quickly. In 1976, Mr. Cernock was promoted to sergeant, and in 1980 made lieutenant. Just a year later, he was moved up to deputy chief. He served in that role for less than two months before becoming the department's chief.
Those who worked with Mr. Cernock in the department knew him as an outstanding administrator who was particularly focused on staying on the cutting edge of technology.
"He was instrumental in starting the computer system here," said Sandy Jackowski, who worked under Mr. Cernock for a decade in the Records Department. "He was a hands-on chief."
Current Deputy Chief Tom Tauer, who served as a pallbearer at Mr. Cernock's funeral, said that the chief was also a crime prevention advocate, who pushed for officers to be trained in crime prevention techniques and to communicate regularly with children and seniors.
It was under Mr. Cernock's tenure as chief that North Riverside instituted an annual parade and event at the North Riverside Park Mall, where he also served as a security consultant from 1979 until his retirement as chief in 1988. The event was a vast undertaking, involving police departments from all over Cook County and featuring a variety of crime prevention exhibits.
But organizing complex events was part of Mr. Cernock's nature, according to his then-Deputy Chief Rich Gossling, who became the department's police chief after Mr. Cernock retired. Gossling recalled a large-scale mock train derailment that the North Riverside Police Department staged on the tracks near the mall. The event involved many other law enforcement agencies and mall security. The event took weeks to organize.
"He was the type of person that any department or private industry would be welcome to work with," Gossling said. "He was that organized."
Mr. Cernock also instituted a police officer exchange program involving North Riverside police and police officers from England. The program was a way for the officers to exchange ideas on law enforcement techniques. In addition, he was a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police.
"Tom was always open to new, innovative ideas," Gossling said.
When Mr. Cernock announced his retirement in 1988, it was no surprise that he did so to take on the role as vice president of corporate security for the Simon Property Group of Indianapolis. In 1979, Simon, which owned the North Riverside Park Mall, hired Mr. Cernock as a consultant. He was the company's first home office employee of the year.
According to a release issued by his family, Mr. Cernock loved spending time with his family, as well as camping, sailing and working on multiple train layouts.
"Those who knew him loved him, marveled at his commanding personality and admired his zest for life," the release stated.
Mr. Cernock is survived by his mother, Gertrude Cernock; his wife, Susan Cernock (nee Stejskal); his children, Lisa (Mitch) Thomas, Michael (Robyn) Cernock, Karen Cernock and Lori Cernock; his grandchildren, Rachel Thomas and Brett Thomas; his brother, Robert Cernock; and his sisters, Deborah (James) Burns and Barbara Cernock.
We was preceded in death by his father, Dr. William F. Cernock, and by his daughter, Laura Anne Cernock.
A funeral service was held Aug. 19 at Kuratko Funeral Home/Nosek Family Funeral Directors, North Riverside, which handled arrangements.
END OF OBIT
People who remember Tom from grade school at Longfellow may be amused that he went into police work. He was not, shall we say, the most rule-oriented of children. He was, though, a bright, vibrant guy whose thing was not school.
Some may remember him as a French horn player with the school orchestra.
I had an inkling that he might be in Carmel (an affluent suburb of Indianapolis) in years when I was not far away. I thought about calling him, but never did. I regret that. It would have been fun.
Michael Cesario
I remember him well! He lived right behind me when we all went to Longfelow. Yes, Tom going into police work was odd! His military dates sound right as he left school in 1963. Wish I would have stayed in touch!