Police community mourns former Wheaton chief

As a patrol officer, Carl Dobbs didn't always write traffic tickets for the teenage motorists he would catch speeding on Wheaton's streets.

Instead, he would escort the young drivers home and have them explain to their parents what happened.

"He had a lot more Andy Griffith in him than Andy Sipowicz," said La Grange Park Police Chief Daniel McCollum, a longtime friend of Dobbs. "He was a very, very strong proponent of community bonds and community relations."

That approach served Dobbs well when he rose through the ranks to become Wheaton's police chief in 1981. By the time he retired in 1996, friends said, Dobbs was widely respected as a consummate professional.

This week, law enforcement officials throughout the state are joining Dobbs' friends and family in mourning his death. The Aurora resident died Saturday after a long battle with cancer. He was 76.

"His positive influence has benefited all levels of law enforcement in Illinois," said Mark Field, who became Wheaton's chief after Dobbs retired. "He will be greatly missed by his colleagues and associates."

Dobbs, who graduated from Aurora University with a bachelor's degree, started working for the Wheaton Police Department on March 4, 1968, initially taking on patrol and administrative assignments. Climbing through the ranks, he was promoted to sergeant in 1970, lieutenant in 1977 and division commander in 1979. Two years later, he became chief, Field said.

"His service as chief was excellent," said Don Rose, Wheaton city manager. "In the time span that he was here ... the town was undergoing significant growth and the department was growing during that time. He was instrumental in shepherding that growth."

During his tenure, Dobbs helped oversee the construction of a $4.9 million police facility.

Nancy Dobbs said her husband loved his job.

"He loved the interaction with people," she said. "He was a tremendous people person with great charisma."

Dobbs was a champion of community policing long before it became a buzz word in law enforcement, friends said. In addition to creating a crime prevention officer position in Wheaton, he established a senior volunteer program.

Nancy Dobbs said her husband also enjoyed mentoring other law enforcement officials.

Batavia Police Chief Gary Schira credits Dobbs with taking him under his wing about 30 years ago. At the time, Schira was a sergeant in Bloomingdale and he was preparing to attend the School of Police Staff and Command at Northwestern University.

Dobbs, a 1974 graduate of that program, contacted Schira for the first time to offer pointers and career advice.

"He had a wonderful reputation in DuPage County already and I was nobody," Schira recalled. "I thought it was amazing that someone I didn't know took that much of an interest in me and my career. He became a wonderful mentor and friend."

Dobbs was elected president of the DuPage Chiefs of Police Association in 1985. Four years later, he became president of the Illinois Chiefs of Police Association.

Despite retirement, he never left law enforcement. He served as interim chief for Northlake, Bensenville, Roselle, Forest Park and Berwyn.

"Law enforcement was in his blood, and he loved the challenge," Schira said. "He was an icon to many of us in law enforcement."

Visitation will be from 2 to 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 19, at Williams-Kampp Funeral Home, 430 E. Roosevelt Road, Wheaton. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 20, at Annunciation Church, 1820 Church Road, Aurora.

Mourns: Ex-chief believed strong in community policing