Former chief, administrator to lead Quadcom

A former East Dundee police chief - and that village's first administrator - has been tapped to take over as the director for a regional emergency dispatch center.

David Smith, 60, of East Dundee, started Monday as the director of Quadcom, about a year after the former director was indicted on charges of using a background check program for personal use.

Quadcom is the 9-11 nerve center for Carpentersville, East Dundee, West Dundee, Sleepy Hollow and South Barrington. Smith served as interim director of the organization for six months from late 1999.

"I thought maybe I could fit what they were looking for and the interest that I still had for being director," Smith said. "I can make a budget, I have experience with public communications and I am familiar with the communities that are involved as member agencies."

More than 40 candidates applied for the position.

Smith began his public safety career as an East Dundee patrolman in 1973 and was named police chief in 1977 - a role he held for eight years. He was then named East Dundee's first-ever village administrator in 1986. After leaving the administrator position in 1999, Smith was the interim Quadcom director for six months until Steven Cordes took the helm. Most recently, Smith was the director of the criminal justice program at Elgin Community College, where he has worked since 2000.

Carpentersville Fire Chief John Schuldt, a member of the Quadcom personnel committee that headed the search for a new director, said Smith was the best qualified of those who applied.

"His experience as a former police chief, a former administrator and as a former interim director for (Quadcom) years ago, I think brings a lot to the table," Schuldt said. "The nine agencies will benefit from his expertise and experience."

Smith's appointment comes almost a year after Cordes was indicted on official misconduct charges. Cordes, 44, of Lake in the Hills, in September pleaded guilty to official misconduct for using a criminal background database to help his girlfriend dig up information on her daughter's friends. In exchange for the guilty plea, Cordes was given a six-month jail sentence and 30 months of probation.

The Quadcom board of directors is expected to make Smith's appointment official at a board meeting scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 28.