Centralia Police Department promotes two
PROTECTED CONTENT
If you’re a current subscriber, log in below. If you would like to subscribe, please click the subscribe tab above.
Username and Password Help
Please enter your email and we will send you a password reset link.
Sentinel Photo/JO ALLEN
NEW LIEUTENANT — Trent Timmons takes the oath, surrounded by his family, to become Centralia’s newest police lieutenant. City Clerk Kim Enke, FAR RIGHT, administered the oath.
CENTRALIA — Following the retirement of police lieutenant Jamie James of the Centralia Police Department, two promotions took place prior to Monday night’s city council meeting. Officer John Hinkel was promoted to sergeant and Sergeant Trent Timmons was promoted to lieutenant.
Born and raised in Centralia, Lieutenant Trent Timmons received his education from Kaskaskia College and Webster University. Timmons began his police career in 2010 with the Wamac Police Department and also worked at the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office before joining the Centralia Police Department in 2013 as a patrol officer.
Timmons rose the ranks in 2019 when he was promoted to sergeant and was awarded the Medal of Valor this past year. Timmons is married with two children.
“It’s an honor and a privilege to work for the Centralia Police Department.” Timmons said, “It’s one of the greatest departments in the area. The guys and gals I work with are wonderful; I hope to fulfill my lieutenant duties (the) best (that) I can.”
Sergeant John Hinkel is a 1996 graduate of Edinburg Township High School, with years of experience as a public servant.
Sentinel Photo/JO ALLEN
PROMOTED TO SERGEANT — Officer John Hinkel takes the oath to become the new sergeant at the Centralia Police Department from City Clerk Kim Enke. His wife, Mary Ann, holds the Bible.
“John has been a public servant all (of) his adult life,” Centralia Police Department Chief Christopher Locke said. “He (has) served as an EMT, paramedic, volunteer fireman and, of course, as a firefighter.”
Hinkel began his police career in 2013 with the Central City Police Department, where he quickly climbed the ranks to sergeant in that department. In 2021, he became Centralia’s first lateral transfer hire.
Hinkel holds many certifications, including Stop the Bleed, active shooter response and EMT instructor. He also still has a certification as a paramedic.
In addition to his certifications and prior experience as sergeant, Hinkel is the current school resource officer for Centralia City Schools, a role that he will step down from now that he has become sergeant.
“I’m going to miss my position at the schools,” Hinkel said. “But, there’s a different calling here.”
Hinkel is married with six children and 14 grandchildren.
Police Chief Locke said that a new school resource officer will soon be announced.
During the city council meeting, recently retired CPD Lt. Jamie James received a service award for his 23 years of dedicated service to the City of Centralia.
Retired Lt. James was unavailable during the meeting and his wife received the award in his honor.
Sentinel Photo/JO ALLEN
RETIRED LIEUTENANT HONORED — Retired Police Lt. Jamie James was honored with a service award after 23 years of service to the Centralia Police Department. James was unavailable, so his wife Kali James received the award in his honor. FROM LEFT TO RIGHT are councilmen Israel Fontanez and Jeff Castellari, Mayor Bryan Kuder, Kali James, councilman Rob Jackson and council woman Barri Allen.
