21-01 Officer and Civilian Employee of the Year
Oak Brook Police Department
1200 Oak Brook Road
Oak Brook, IL 60523
(630) 368-8702
Contact:
Officer Katie Yager
Public Information Officer
(630) 368-8734
cyager@oak-brook.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oak Brook Police Announce Officer and Civilian Employee of the Year
OAK BROOK, IL – January 27, 2021
The Oak Brook Police Department is pleased to announce the Officer of the Year for 2020 is
Officer Joseph Kieca. Officer Kieca has been a member of the Oak Brook Police Department
since May of 2019 after several years’ experience at the Sandwich Police Department. He has
been assigned to the Patrol Division since his hire. Officer Kieca has served as a Juvenile
Officer, Breath Operator, Bike Officer, and Field Training Officer. Officer Kieca was selected
for the NIPAS Bicycle Response Team in 2020. Due to his competence and teamwork, Officer
Kieca was selected to serve as an Assistant Shift Commander for his Team. Officer Kieca’s
proactive policing led to being in the top three for custodial arrests in 2020. He is a ‘go to
person’ for both officers and supervisors. Officer Kieca has received the Medal of Life for his
life saving efforts for an unresponsive person at the Oakbrook Center Mall. In August of 2020,
Officer Kieca received a Certificate of Appreciation in recognition of his DUI enforcement from
the Alliance Against Intoxicated Motorist. Officer Kieca is a dedicated public servant who
shows up each and every day looking to make a difference within the department and within the
Village of Oak Brook.
The Civilian Employee of the Year for 2020 is Records Technician Marybeth Burba. Ms. Burba
has been a member of the Department since November of 2009. Ms. Burba is responsible for
multiple programs within the Records Section including the Administrative Adjudication, Alarm
Billing, Patrol Traffic statistics, and traffic court notices. She expanded her area of
responsibilities in 2020 to include daily transmittals to DuPage County, expungements, FOIA,
and NIBRS. With the reduction in staff in 2020, Ms. Burba has had an increased responsibility
in managing the Records Section in the absence of our Lead Records Clerk. This has required
her to work alone on many occasions. Marybeth works through challenges efficiently and
provides an excellent level of customer service to the community, whether by telephone or at the
service window.
This is the Oak Brook Police Department’s Fifth Annual Officer of the Year and Civilian
Employee of the Year awards. Nominations were submitted by fellow employees to the
Department Employee of the Year Committee who then brought forward a recommendation to
the Chief of Police for final approval.
Normally both employees would be recognized at an upcoming Village Board meeting, however
due to COVID restrictions in place with the Board meeting via Zoom that presentation will be at
a later date.
Officer Joseph Kieca Records Technician Marybeth Burba
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JK Initialed by C.O.P
Released 21-01