‘It’s one of the few jobs where you can make a positive difference’

ROCHELLE — Rochelle Police Department Sgt. Joe Sester is in his 12th year with the department and 14th as a police officer. He works night shift. 

Sester shares the normal responsibilities of the other officers in regards to handling day-to-day activities of the department. As sergeant, he’s also in charge of communicating orders from the top and attempting to mediate department issues. 

The RPD sergeant has a bachelor’s degree from Northern Illinois University. He’s served in many roles for the department including working as a field training officer, on truck enforcement and bicycle patrol, and as union assistant and pension board vice president. 

“The initial draw to law enforcement was the excitement,” Sester said. “However, it is also one of the few jobs where you can also make a positive difference in somebody’s life on a day-to-day basis.”

When he’s not at work, Sester enjoys spending time with his four kids and his girlfriend. He’s always been into sports and he golfs as much as he can. 

Sester enjoys that each day as a police officer is “completely different” from the last and that the profession and people are constantly changing, which he says keeps the job from feeling repetitive.

When asked about a memorable experience he’s had on the job, Sester said he couldn’t pick just one.

“Sometimes situations are funny, sometimes they are exciting and even dangerous and sometimes they are sad,” Sester said. “I try to keep memories vague, in order to not dwell on situations when I’m not at work.”

The RPD sergeant wants the community to know that he and his coworkers have Rochelle’s back.

“There are a lot of good people working for RPD and every one of them is doing the best they can to help the community thrive,” Sester said.