Mount Prospect bids farewell to police chief

Mount Prospect village board members this week bid farewell to Police Chief John Dahlberg with a resolution read in parts by each of the trustees. The ceremony was followed by a party on the ground floor of village hall.

It was an emotional farewell for both the trustees and Dahlberg, who attended with his wife Kelly and son John.

Dahlberg, who will begin his retirement in June, thanked trustees and other village officials. He particularly thanked the men and women of the Mount Prospect Police Department.

"Collectively, you are the single most committed and genuine group of professionals I have ever had the pleasure of working with," he told them. "This community enjoys in each of you the determination to get it right."

He singled out his successor, Deputy Chief Michael Semkiu, for "his unwavering support and exceptional counsel.

"I simply could not have asked for a better wing man and I will be eternally grateful for the unselfish assistance and sound reasoning that you brought to every difficult circumstance that would present itself to my office," he said.

Trustees praised the work of the man they call "J.D." Trustee Paul Hoefert said Dahlberg has been a leader and an example for many.

"The likes of a John Dahlberg only come along so often, and we have blessed to have you here with us all these years," he said. "You have been a friend to so many along the way. There were a number of times when you were there for my family and for me, and I want you to know how much that meant to me."

Dahlberg was sworn in as a Mount Prospect police officer in 1985, becoming deputy chief in 2003 and chief in 2007.