Carol Stream tabs longtime cop as new police chief

A longtime Glen Ellyn police officer, who most recently served as that town's assistant village manager, has been named Carol Stream police chief.

Bill Holmer will be sworn in next Monday and officially begin his new job July 27.

He replaces Stephen Schmidt, who has served as interim director of the Carol Stream Police Department since last October. Schmidt was named to the temporary post following the retirement of Ed Sailer, who spent 33 years with the department, including four as chief.

Village Manager Bob Mellor said Holmer was selected after a nationwide search that attracted 68 candidates from places such as Chicago, Indiana, Michigan and Virginia. He said officials interviewed nine candidates before selecting Holmer.

The new chief already has met with his command staff and several of the department's 68 officers.

Mellor said he was impressed with Holmer's experience both in police work and village administration, and said the new chief will be a good communicator and a calming presence.

Holmer spent more than 25 years with the Glen Ellyn Police Department, including 16 as assistant chief. He has served as assistant village manager since 2018.

He has a master's degree in public safety administration from Lewis University and a bachelor's in management from National-Louis University. He attended the FBI National Academy and Northwestern University's School of Police Staff and Command.

His areas of focus have included policy creation, public communication, grant acquisition, succession planning and collaborative community policing, according to a village news release.

"We have a great opportunity to build on our public service relationships with our residents and I know Bill is going to be a great partner in that," Mayor Frank Saverino said in the news release.