Hazelwood Police Officers Receive Promotions to Captain, Major Ranks

Hazelwood Chief of Police Gregg Hall said one decision he's made without a second thought is to promote three Hazelwood Police Department (HPD) officers.

"I'm truly honored," he said at a recent Hazelwood City Council meeting. "These are three people that I have worked with their whole career."

Those people are James F. Hudanick and Ken Jewson, both promoted to the rank of captain. Henry Mansker was promoted to the rank of major.

Hall spoke fondly of each.

"Henry's been here since 1975," He  said. "He's done everything in the Hazelwood Police Department from sweeping floors to running our special investigators unit."

HPD has used Mansker as a uniformed patrol officer and administrative officer. Four years into his position with the city, he resigned to take a position as chief of police for the city of Edmundson. In 1981, he joined the St. Louis County Police Department. Three years later, he returned to Hazelwood as an officer and was later promoted to a detective. In 1998 he became a captain and commanded both the HPD's operations and support groups.  

With the new promotion, Mansker is responsible for the uniformed officers.

Hall said Jewson and he began with the HPD at just about the same time.

"Jewson started six months after I did back in 1980," he said. "He and I have worked together at just about every level."

Jewson's time with the HPD goes back to school-age years. He worked as an HPD intern during his senior year in high school, and was later appointed a HPD police officer on February 4, 1980.  He was assigned to the detective bureau in 1983, as well as served as an investigator and supervisor with the major case squad from 1985 to 1999. He was promoted a sergeant in 1998, and in 2008, Jewson was promoted to lieutenant ranking.  As a captain, he will be in charge of the department’s CALEA standards, quality control, administration and purchasing for the department.

Hudanick began with the HPD in 1989. He has been a part of the mobile response team from 1993-1997,  and the youth interaction team for one year in 1995. He was promoted to sergeant and later assigned as supervisor of the criminal investigation team in 2003. As a captain, Hudanick will be responsible for the department's support group.

"These guys are not just hard workers and assets to the community," Hall said. "They are very good friends of mine."

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