New police chief getting to know Campton Hills

Thirty years after he joined the Aurora Police Department as a school resource officer, Daniel Hoffman says he's ready to be a "hands-on" police chief for the village of Campton Hills.

"It all comes down to communication and trust," he said. "It all comes down to the relationship you have with the people you're policing, your constituency."

Hoffman, 51, a husband and father of three, became chief Dec. 28, replacing Greg Anderson as top cop in Kane County's newest village.

His initial priorities, he said, include getting to know the department and community, both of which attracted Hoffman because of their size and efficiency.

"It's really a well-run organization, and it's a beautiful community," he said. "I'm not going to make any dramatic changes right away."

Hoffman is Campton Hills' second police chief since the village won incorporation rights by referendum two years ago. Anderson stepped down last month to become chief in Oak Forest.

According to village documents, Hoffman will be paid slightly less than Anderson, who was tasked with building up the police force from scratch. His five-year contract outlines a base salary of $75,000 compared to Anderson's $80,000.

Village President Patsy Smith said Hoffman's broad experience in law enforcement, from being a beat officer to working in upper management, has given him the "combined capabilities" necessary for the job.

An East Aurora High School graduate, Hoffman began his career in law enforcement as a resource officer at his alma mater in 1979 - a position he described as "extremely rewarding" - and went on to work narcotics.

By 1990, he was a sergeant in charge of patrol operations and an investigations bureau. He retired as a commander last year and has since been active as president of the Aurora Police Pension Fund. He also is a board member at Aurora's Hesed House homeless shelter.

Because of his career, Hoffman said, he already has a working relationship with some of the 14 officers in his new department, which employs several retirees from Aurora and other area police departments.

"It's a good fit," he said.

Eventually, Hoffman said, he would like to help the department earn professional accreditation, upgrade its equipment and get video recorders for patrol squads. For now, though, he's focused on learning.

"I'm just trying to get my hands around it (the new job) and get settled," he said. "I want to be hands-on, but allowing employees the latitude to be themselves, to be cops."