St. Charles swears in new police chief

In a letter to the public on the Streamwood Police Department's website, Chief James Keegan describes the duties of his office to those considering employment with his department.

“We are always looking for new and qualified candidates who share our belief that law enforcement isn't a job or career, it's a way of life; and, that serving and protecting is our most important goal,” Keegan wrote. Monday night, he brought a similar sense of duty to his new job as police chief in St. Charles.

Mayor Ray Rogina swore in Keegan with the new chief's wife and two sons as well as a host of area police chiefs and members of Keegan's new department.

“I will vow to work as hard as I can as your next chief of police,” Keegan said. “I, like you, value our citizens as our No. 1 priority.”

Keegan spent 22 years in various roles with the Streamwood Police Department before coming to St. Charles. He told the audience it was not an easy decision to leave a community he served for so long. Keegan was named police chief in Streamwood in 2011.

“The opportunities that St. Charles presented for both me and my family were something that I felt we couldn't pass up,” Keegan said. “I really do believe that St. Charles police is committed to excellence.”

Keegan's first official day was June 30. He said he is impressed by what he's seen so far. And he told former police Chief Jim Lamkin, who attended Monday's ceremony, that he intends to continue the practices Lamkin put in place during his tenure.

That includes keeping Steve Huffman on as deputy chief. Huffman served as the interim chief during the six month search that reviewed about 75 applicants.