Carol Stream police chief retiring after 29 years

Carol Stream police Chief Rick Willing won't bring up any awards or heroics when he recalls his greatest accomplishment during his 29 years with the department.

Instead, he'll use one word: "community."

When Willing retires from his post on Friday, Oct. 10, to spend more time with his wife and family, he'll leave most proud of the work he's done to develop community policing programs in the village.

"I believe it's a safer community and the fabric is stronger because of the partnerships and the relationships we've been able to develop," he said Monday.

Willing joined the department as a patrol officer in 1979, after spending three years as a cadet with the Aurora Police Department. By 2001 he had worked his way up to deputy chief.

In 2003, when Willing was named chief, the department's Citizens Police Academy was launched. The volunteer class teaches residents about police work and forges partnerships with the department. Today, it still attracts up to 25 participants per session.

"The most important thing is for police and residents to develop the ability to communicate and understand each other and develop trust," Willing said. "There are so many times when the community gets frustrated with the police because they just don't understand what we're doing and why we're doing it."

Improved communication between officers and residents isn't the only change Willing has seen during almost three decades in the village. When he joined the department, Willing said only 16 officers made up the force that watched over a population of roughly 15,000. Today, Carol Stream has boomed to more than 43,000 residents and the police department employs 68 officers.

And a bigger village - coupled with concerns like the sliding national economy - creates new challenges, Willing said.

"The dynamics of the job change literally on a daily basis, from the legal aspects, challenges of homeland security and economics," said Willing. "Every community around here is faced with increasing costs and reduced revenues and trying to do the most with the assets and resources we have available. Homeland security wasn't even in our vocabulary when I started, and now after 9-11 it's taken priority."

After Willing retires, tackling these issues will be up to Deputy Chief Kevin Orr, who will step in as interim chief. The new chief ultimately will be appointed by Village Manager Joseph Breinig, with the advice of Village President Frank Saverino and the board of trustees. Breinig said filling the vacancy is a priority, but is not an urgent matter because the department is running smoothly.

"If we were a department in turmoil, I would say we are in the need to make an immediate decision. But we are not," Breinig said. "It is a critical position, but the community deserves the best person possible and we need some time to determine that."

Although Willing says he will miss many aspects of police work, especially the volunteers, he said retirement will give him freedom to explore positions in government or the corporate sector and to rededicate himself to his wife and their three children, ages 25, 22, and 12.

"This position places significant demands on you, like phone calls in the middle of the night, the weekends that occur, and just needing to be connected to the department 24/7," Willing said. "I'm looking forward to being able to spend time with them and commit time I've sacrificed over the years."

Career Highlights

1979: Joined Carol Stream Police Department as patrol officer

1982: Named Carol Stream Employee of the Year

1987: Promoted to sergeant

1997: Promoted to lieutenant

2000: Village Employee of the Year

2001: Promoted to deputy chief; Earned Northwestern University Center for Public Safety Executive Leadership Award

2003: Promoted to chief

2004: Department earns Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police Community Policing Award

2005-06; 2007-08: Department named Illinois Traffic Safety Challenge Champions

2006-07: Department named National Law Enforcement Traffic Safety Challenge Champions

2007: Department recognized by the Commission for the Accreditation of Law Enforcement Agencies

2008: Named second vice president of the DuPage Chiefs of Police Association, where he also served as secretary this year and treasurer in 2007; Earned more than 25 departmental commendations throughout his career with Carol Stream