Wauconda mayor recommending new police chief at Tuesday meeting

Wauconda Mayor Frank Bart plans to present a recommendation for a new police chief at Tuesday night's village board meeting.

Bart wants Sgt. Patrick Yost to take over as top cop Sept. 1, replacing Douglas Larsson. Because of a large crowd that's expected, the village board session has been shifted to the Wauconda High School cafeteria on the building's east side at 555 N. Main St.

A village board majority must ratify Bart's nomination of Yost as police chief.

While Larsson has done a good job as chief since 2009, Bart said, Wauconda no longer can afford a top-heavy police department with nine sergeants as part of a force of 26 officers. He said moving Yost to police chief will save money and allow a sergeant position to go unfilled.

Bart said he came to know Yost as a past commander of the local American Legion post and is confident in him. Bart said he plans to offer Larsson an opportunity to work for Wauconda police as a consultant.

Larsson came to Wauconda after he was police chief in Round Lake Beach for about seven years. He also served for 30 years with the Rolling Meadows Police Department, where he achieved the rank of deputy chief.

“I will have no regrets and am proud of my work (in Wauconda) and I will miss the members of this police department greatly,” Larsson said.

Bart said his goal is to confront a projected budget deficit by reducing all expenditures while maintaining quality services for Wauconda residents.