Cary picks new police chief

Cary's search for a new police chief is finally over.

Village President Tom Kierna announced Steve Casstevens, now assistant chief in Hoffman Estates, as his pick Tuesday afternoon and the board endorsed his hire and subsequent contract.

“My impression of Mr. Casstevens was he was a quality individual, and I felt that his desire, his leadership, communication skills and preparedness stood above the other candidates that we interviewed,” Kierna said.

Casstevens has 31 years of law enforcement experience and is anticipated to make a starting salary of $110,000 a year, less than what he's making in Hoffman Estates, Kierna said.

Casstevens, 52, could not be reached for comment after the meeting. He will report to work in Cary Jan. 18.

Casstevens has been a police officer in one form or another for 34 years.

He served in the U.S. Army 101st Airborne Division as a military police officer in 1977 and a year later started his Illinois policing career in Mendota, then Peru. In 1981, he joined Hoffman Estates as a patrol officer and worked his way through the ranks to his current position.

Cary spent $16,400 to hire Deerfield-based Voorhees Associates, a national recruiting firm that found 111 candidates. The village narrowed the candidates to 19, then to seven, before arriving at the three finalists.

Three internal candidates who applied for the job did not make it that far into the process: Acting Chief Ed Fetzer and deputy chiefs Ed Synek and Geoff Cooker.

“It's been my feeling that we needed to look outside for a police chief,” Kierna said.

Casstevens replaces Ron Delelio, who retired earlier this summer after having spent two years on leave from job-related injuries. Casstevens is expected to retire from his current post in Hoffman Estates.