Grayslake village board approves new police chief
Grayslake Mayor Rhett Taylor’s recommendation that Phillip Perlini become the new police chief was ratified by the village board Tuesday evening.
It’s a step up the career ladder for Glenview’s deputy police chief, who started his law-enforcement career more than 32 years ago. Perlini replaces Matthew McCutcheon, whose resignation became official July 1, about three months after authorities accused him of causing an alcohol-related crash in Kenosha County, Wis.
Village board trustees voted 6-0 in favor of appointing Perlini as top cop. Taylor reiterated his support of Perlini leading the Grayslake force, which also covers Hainesville on a contract basis.
“He brings a lot of good experience to us,” Taylor said.
Perlini, 51, a longtime central Lake County resident, is scheduled to take over the Grayslake Police Department on July 30. He said he’s already talked to Interim Police Chief Jack McKeever.
Although he doesn’t have any immediate plans as he becomes familiar with the department, Perlini said there is a certain style of policing that he prefers.
“I like police work to be delivered in a personal manner and a personal way to people,” he said after receiving a thumbs-up from the Grayslake village board.
Perlini, who’s been a certified firefighter/paramedic with the Greater Round Lake Fire Protection District since 2001, was 18 when he launched his career in what previously was known as the radio room of the Park Ridge Police Department.
Former Grayslake Police Chief Larry Herzog was a lieutenant in Park Ridge when Perlini started there. Perlini, who left Park Ridge to become a full-time officer for Hoffman Estates in 1983, said Herzog was a good boss.
Taylor said Herzog gave Perlini “a nice stamp of approval” when he was deciding whom to recommend as Grayslake’s police chief.
Perlini was hired as a full-time cop in Glenview in 1984 and spent the next 28 years with the department, serving as sergeant, commander and deputy chief. Perlini has experience as a patrol commander, support services commander, and commander of investigations.
He received a bachelor of science degree in business management and a master’s degree from Dominican University. Perlini said his base salary will be $132,000 in Grayslake.
McCutcheon, who had a $125,000 base salary for the current budget year, was on paid administrative leave from April 6 until his resignation became effective July 1. Grayslake records show he was on pace to collect $29,458 for the paid leave.
Kenosha County police said McCutcheon, 46, of Fox Lake, was drunk when he caused a crash with another vehicle about 10:10 p.m. March 30 just over the border near Silver Lake, Wis. McCutcheon has pleaded not guilty to charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated and operating left of centerline.
No one was injured in the collision. Authorities said McCutcheon was swaying, smelled of alcohol and had bloodshot eyes when they interviewed him after the crash.
McCutcheon was among an initial field of about a dozen police chief candidates identified by a consultant before he was appointed Feb. 7.