A brilliant police mind serving Des Plaines
In 1994, when Des Plaines Police Chief Bob Sturlini set out to overhaul the department and implement community policing and a different beat structure, he turned to a trusted colleague to help him design the changes: Capt. John Meese, at the time a 26-year veteran with the force.
"I relied on John heavily," says Sturlini, who has since retired. "He was instrumental in helping me make the changes."
Mr. Meese retired from the police department in 1998 after a distinguished 30-year career and became director of security for Juno Lighting in Des Plaines.
He collapsed and died at the lighting manufacturer plant Tuesday after working out.
The former Des Plaines resident, who most recently lived in Lake Barrington, was 66.
Immediately upon learning the news, Des Plaines police officials began making arrangements to provide Mr. Meese's family with support and an honor guard for his wake and funeral.
Des Plaines Police Chief Jim Prandini remembers serving under Mr. Meese when he was a watch commander. He described him as "an outstanding leader who was very, very dedicated to the Des Plaines Police Department and its complete well being."
"Whenever there was a promotional test, everyone knew John Meese would finish No. 1," Prandini says. "It was just a question of who would finish behind him. That's how well-respected he was."
Mr. Meese began his career on the force in 1968, after coming to the Northwest suburbs from southwest Pennsylvania, where his father was a coal miner. A little more than a year after he started he was named a field training officer, and the promotions continued steadily after that.
Initially as a patrolman, Mr. Meese had a high school diploma, but while working for the department Mr. Meese went on to earn his college degree from Eastern Illinois University and a master's from Western Illinois University. After that, he graduated from the FBI Academy in Quantico, Va.
At the time of his retirement, Mr. Meese headed up the operations division, the patrol unit and the tactical unit or special operations group of the Des Plaines Police.
Former Des Plaines police officer Ron Robinson served under Mr. Meese when he was the chief homicide investigator.
"If it was a tough case, John got the case," Robinson says. "He had a brilliant mind, and could break down details and think a problem all the way through, like no one else."
Family members agree that Mr. Meese was dedicated to his police work, but in his spare time he found time to golf and play in the men's softball leagues at Rand Park in Des Plaines.
Mr. Meese is survived by his wife, Gladys, and sons John of Schaumburg and James of Lake in the Hills, and four grandchildren.
Visitation for Mr. Meese will take place from 3 to 9 p.m. Friday, followed by an 11 a.m. funeral Saturday, both at Oehler Funeral Home, 2000 E. Northwest Hwy. in Arlington Heights.