Cary to name new police chief next week

Cary is poised to select a new police chief at the start of the new year and has narrowed the months-long search down to three finalists, Village President Tom Kierna confirmed Monday.

The new chief will not come from within the ranks of the department.

Although Acting Chief Ed Fetzer and acting deputy chiefs Ed Synek and Geoff Cooker applied for the job, Kierna acknowledged that none made the final cut.

He declined to elaborate.

Kierna is finalizing compensation and benefits with one finalist for the job advertised at paying $110,000.

Department heads can make as much as $134,000 a year, Village Administrator Cameron Davis said.

Each of the finalists has had police careers that have spanned 30 years or more and are all currently employed, Davis said.

Kierna would only say the finalists are all from Illinois.

“I'm still working through the process and negotiating, so I'm not at liberty to tell you who they are yet,” Kierna said. “One, in my opinion, and with the consent of the board, stood out among the three.”

Cary took this search seriously from the start and spent $16,400 to hire Deerfield-based Voorhees Associates, a national recruiting firm that found 111 candidates.

Cary authorities narrowed the candidates to 19, then to seven, before arriving at the three finalists.

The new chief will replace Ron Delelio, who retired earlier this summer after having spent two years on injury leave from job-related injuries.

Delelio joined the department in 1990 and was eligible for retirement July 10. As part of the agreement he signed with the village, Delelio was paid $121,976.49, a sum that included his salary, his remaining holiday time for the year and his unspent vacation time. The village also will continue paying into Delelio's retirement benefits that include pension contributions, the agreement stated.

Kierna is expected to announce his pick Jan. 4.