Semkiu takes reins of Mount Prospect police department

Mount Prospect prides itself on the strength of what trustees call the “deep bench” within the ranks of its police department.

The bench moved to the first string Tuesday night, when former Deputy Chief Michael Semkiu was sworn in as the village’s new police chief.

Hired in 1983, Semkiu moved up the ranks during his 29 years with the force. He was promoted to sergeant in 1998 and commander in 2002. In 2004, he was appointed deputy chief of administrative services.

Semkiu also is an attorney, having received a law degree from the John Marshall Law School. He graduated from Loyola University of Chicago with a bachelor of science degree.

“The Mount Prospect police department is one of the finest police agencies in the state,” said Semkiu, who praised his predecessor, the retiring John Dahlberg. “Much of our success can be attributed to (Dahlberg’s) enthusiasm and dedication to the department and the village. He will be sorely missed.”

Trustee John Matuszak said he and Semkiu have an association that dates back to their teenage years, when they worked in the men’s department of the JCPenney store at Golf Mill Shopping Center.

“Mike could sell underwear like nobody else,” Matuszak said, eliciting laughter from an audience filled with friends, family and representatives from neighboring law enforcement agencies.

More seriously, though, he said the two would talk about the future. Matuszak said Semkiu was studying psychology at Loyola at the time, while he was studying law enforcement.

When Semkiu told him he wasn’t quite sure that psychology was the right field, Matuszak suggested law enforcement — and the rest is history.

“He is going to serve our town well,” Matuszak said. “He has always been a person of high integrity.”

Wagner is a 22-year veteran of the department. He was promoted to sergeant in 1997 and commander in 2001. Prior to his latest promotion, he was operations commander.

Smith is a 24-year veteran of the department, having reached the rank of sergeant in 2007, acting as midnight shift commander. Raus is a 14-year veteran of the force, having recently served in the investigative section.