Palos Park Police Remember Generous Donor

Our community lost a very kind and generous man this week. Ralph Vennetti, husband of Katherine and father of Ralph (Sandra), Michael (Andrea) and David (Julie) Vennetti.

Please allow us to now share with you the “real story” about Ralph and the type of man he was. As the economy began to severely impact the Village of Palos Park‘s finances, and budget reduction measures where underway, we placed a moratorium on police officer in service training. We thought for a time, in order to live within a lean budget, we had to forego training for our officers in the short term.

As we dealt with the suspension of officer training, we looked at avenues and options to ensure we resumed training our officers as soon as possible. It was then that Mr. Vennetti contacted Police Chief Joe Miller and Police Commissioner Dan Polk, and said he wanted to help. Ralph, realizing the importance of trained police officers wanted to make an anonymous donation to the Palos Park Police Department, so we could resume training our officers.

Mr. Venetti’s donation to the Palos Park Police Department is the largest one-time cash gift ever made to our organization and we will be forever grateful to Ralph Vennetti. Mr. Vennetti was much to humble to allow us to explain the mechanisms that put in place the Palos Park Police Foundation at that time.

Upon Ralph’s death, we feel compelled to share with everyone what a kind, caring and community minded person Mr. Vennetti was. Ralph is an example and model to future leaders how an act of philanthropy in the public arena can benefit not one person, but an entire community. In this case the Village of Palos Park Rest in peace dear friend!

The men and women of the Palos Park Police Department.