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Antioch connection to remain strong as Lake Villa hires a new police chief

The status of Lake Villa's police chief is changing but the connection to neighboring Antioch remains strong.

Ron Roth will be "pulling the pin" Wednesday, after six years as Lake Villa's chief and a lifetime in law enforcement, including 28 years in Antioch. His replacement, Craig Somerville, is expected to be approved by the Lake Villa village board Wednesday night as Mayor Frank Loffredo's choice. Somerville, 56, rose from patrolman to chief during a 22-year career in Antioch.

Roth, who also was a patrolman in Antioch and moved up the ranks, was deputy chief when he announced his retirement the first time. In 2008, he was selected to start a police department in Hainesville, which had split from a joint operation with Round Lake Park.

"After Antioch, I discovered I still had gas in the tank," he said Tuesday.

Less than a year later, he opted to take over as Lake Villa's chief when Roger Visconti retired. At the time, he said the move was a "career decision" because the department was triple the size of Hainesville's.

Now 60, Roth said he wanted to be unfettered to pursue interests including fishing, camping and travel while still young and healthy enough to enjoy them.

"You know when it's time," he said. "I'm going to explore this fabulous country." A history buff, Roth said he intends to visit Civil War battlefields and other sites.

Roth said village officials supported various initiatives, including a neighborhood officer program, which began last summer. In that program, an officer is assigned to every neighborhood as the contact between the public and department on day to day matters, such as foreclosed homes. Roth said that compliments the department's bicycle patrol program.

"I'm just amazed at the amount of letters these officers get from the general public, letters of appreciation (and) compliments," he said.

The department has 16 sworn officers plus the chief, and six part-timers.

Before the Lake Villa position surfaced, Somerville had told village leaders in October he intended to retire.

"I left Antioch on a very good note. There's no controversy about this," he said. "I feel this (Lake Villa) is a challenge. I met my goals and left it in very good hands. This is not a one-man band, it's an orchestra."

Antioch Deputy Chief John Laskowski was named interim chief Monday.

Loffredo said the search to replace Roth was limited.

"We didn't go for a big search. We interviewed people we thought would be a good fit," he said. Roth made "phenomenal changes" in the department, including community policing, but the learning curve won't be steep for Somerville who was Antioch's chief for four years, Loffredo said.

Shortly after his promotion, Somerville implemented a neighborhood watch program that has helped cut the burglary rate significantly and involved residents.

He also said he was proud of a program to assist victims of domestic violence, which involves detailed follow up by police throughout the court process, and a mentoring program for sergeants.

"It's all about the community and it doesn't matter if I'm in Antioch or Lake Villa," he said.

Somerville's annual salary in Antioch was $117,303. He'll be paid $100,000 in Lake Villa.

Former Antioch Police Chief Craig Somerville
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