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Aledo gets two new police officers

Two new officers were set to become the newest members of the Aledo, Illinois Police Department.

Two new officers were set to become the newest members of the Aledo, Illinois Police Department.

The vacancies happened when former officers Steve Bonynge, 32, of Aledo and Seth Degelman,30, of Reynolds, were investigated after the Aledo Police Department received a complaint of an inappropriate relationship between an officer and a juvenile, according to Aledo Police Chief J. Michael Sponsler.   Less than a month after they were charged, both officers resigned their positions according to Aledo Mayor Chris Hagloch. Bonynge maintained his resignation was involuntary.

Degelman was charged with one count of indecent solicitation/aggravated criminal sexual abuse, which is a class 3 felony.  During the March 17 preliminary hearing, the prosecutor withdrew the charge, citing a lack of evidence.  Court records showed Bonynge's case was set for trial in April 2015.

"That is a part of what we want to put behind us and we have to move forward. I mean, it's our obligation to move on from that and bring our force up to full strength so we can serve our community as we need to," said Chief Sponsler.

Chief Sponsler said two men from the Quad Cities area had passed all required tests and were set to be sworn in at 3 p.m. Wednesday, March 25, 2015.  Anthony Johnson, 30, of Kewanee most recently served as police chief in Woodhull, Illinois; he also served on the Macomb and New Windsor police departments.

"I've generally worked in small towns and I like that kind of work relationship with people. I like that you can remember people's names," said Johnson.

Adam Baker, 29, of Aledo most recently worked for DeBlock Farms and he has also worked as a correctional officer for the Mercer County Sheriff's Department.

"Ever since I was a little kid I wanted to a be a police officer," he said.

Both men were expected to begin their training March 29.

 

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