Linane keeps job after smooth sailing in Sleepy Hollow
When it came to selecting a police chief, Sleepy Hollow leaders stuck with a known quantity.
James Linane, who has been running the police department for the past eight months on an interim basis, was tapped Monday night to lead the squad of 13 officers.
Linane, 63, was hired in September as interim chief after longtime chief Jim Montalbano retired after 38 years — including 23 as chief — with the department.
The village hired Linane to run the department and to help officials find a permanent successor. Officials later realized there was no reason to look elsewhere.
During his tenure, Linane successfully secured two new police sport utility vehicles at a deep discount and revamped the village’s ordinances to limit the amount of heavy truck traffic rolling through town, according to Trustee Scott Finney.
Village President Stephen Pickett was equally impressed with Linane’s people skills, professionalism, thoughtfulness and attention to detail.
“Working through with him as an interim in the winter, we had discussions and felt that things could work out for both parties, and that we’d like to appoint him as the chief of police,” Pickett said.
Linane was originally going to leave after his interim contract expired April 30, but he agreed to stay because he said things were going smoothly.
“I have had good luck with the department and the citizens and I’m making a lot of progress,” he said Tuesday.
It also helped that Pickett and all of the trustees ran uncontested races, Linane said.
Before Sleepy Hollow, Linane was police chief in Elburn and deputy police chief in Carol Stream.
Linane was fired from Elburn in July 2009 after a new village president was elected.
Linane later sued Elburn and the parties settled on a separation agreement that paid him $85,000 — he was originally seeking $148,000 in wages, severance and back pay.
His Sleepy Hollow contract is for one year with an option to renew. He will be paid $75,000.