ROCHELLE – Rochelle City Manager Jeff Fiegenschuh announced Monday the promotion of former Detective Sergeant Jeff Leininger to deputy chief of the Rochelle Police Department, effective immediately.
“Jeff Leininger’s experience and training within the City of Rochelle is extremely valuable to us and we are excited for his success as deputy chief,” said Fiegenschuh.
Leininger is a lifelong Rochelle resident and has been with the Rochelle Police Department for nearly 20 years, coming up through the ranks as a patrol officer, patrol sergeant and for the past 12 years as detective sergeant.  

He supervises the detective division, field training program and the evidence room and also serves as president of the Ogle County Crime Stoppers Board.  Leininger is the department’s photographer and assists with the maintenance of the website and social media.  
He has received specialized training in sex offender registration, homicide investigations, and gang crime investigations and is a graduate of Northwestern Illinois University’s Center for Public Safety.
Leininger and his wife, Tracey, reside in Rochelle.  They have three daughters and one granddaughter.
“I’m excited for the opportunity.  My goal has always been to leave the department better than I found it 19 years ago and hopefully Chief Higby and I will continue on that path,” said Leininger.
While the police chief serves to create the long term vision of the department including policy implementation and budgeting, the role of the deputy chief is to run the day-to-day operations of the police department.  Deputy chief Leininger will supervise the sergeants, detectives and communications supervisor and will oversee any discipline.
“With the addition of Deputy Chief Leininger, I look forward to being more actively involved in the community.  Leininger’s promotion is positive addition for not only the Police Department but for the community as a whole,” said Chief of Police Eric Higby.