patrick tode: Candidate Profile

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Note: Answers provided have not been edited for grammar, misspellings or typos. In some instances, candidate claims that could not be immediately verified have been omitted. Jump to:BioQA Bio City: Long GroveWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Twitter: Candidate did not respond.Facebook: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Long Grove Village Board Age: 68Family: Wife, two sons, one daughter, one Granddaughter, two Grandsons, one Great grandson.Occupation: Retired Law enforcementEducation: I graduated high school in 1966. At that time we had the Viet Nam war going on. In December of 1966 I joined the Navy. By the time I was discharged I had a wife and child to support. This put college out of reach for me. I have, however, taken numerous college credit courses and other education affiliated with my profession.Civic involvement: I am currently serving as a Trustee with the Home Owners Association of Country Club Estates. I am on the Landscaping and the welcome committees. I am a strong supporter of WINGS an organization that provides shelter and support for battered women. I have provided physical security for some of their events and provided silent auction gifts. I have gone to their shelter and provided a seminar to their staff on self defense.Elected offices held: Current Country Club Estates Trustee, Current President Blue Knights Illinois Chapter. Past Illinois representative of the International Association of Auto Theft Investigators.Questions Answers What makes you the best candidate for the job?Trustee Yaeger is not running for reelection. He was responsible for village safety and communications. I have extensive experience as a law enforcement professional to fill this vacancy. with over 34 years of experience with Chicago PD, including almost 8 of those years on loan to the Illinois State Police I am the only candidate with such strong qualifications. Some the positions that I have held include: Patrol officer, Field Training officer, Instructor at the Chicago Police Training Academy, Detective, Inspector Illinois State Police Auto Theft Task Force, and Negotiator office of the Superintendent Management and Labor Affairs section. The Department sent me to Harvard Law school where I graduated from their programs on Negotiation. This position involved negotiating Union contracts between the city and five Police unions. A skill that could be invaluable in assisting the Village with it's contracts. Three times I was invited to Thiland by their government to teach Police Management and Community Policing to assist in their development. Each time I was congratulated for helping make sweeping improvements to their troubled department. I can give great guidance to the Village of Long Grove. Finally, unlike most of the other candidates, I am Retired from full time employment. This means I have the time to dedicate myself without distraction.What is your opinion of your community's present level of local sales and property taxes? Is the tax just right, too low or too high? Explain.Long Grove is currently without property tax and I believe the residents would like it to stay that way.Rate the efficiency of your town's police and fire coverage. Are the departments well prepared for the next decade? What, if anything, should be changed? Do you have specific public safety concerns?Long Grove has no Police Department. Currently they are renting Police from the Lake County Sherriff department. The current contract provides that the Sherriff will provide 17 man hours of coverage per day with the overlapping shift occurring in the afternoon. Long Grove has NO police coverage during the midnight hours! This comes at no small price. The village is currently paying just under $600,000 per year and as of May 1 2017 $613,054 per year. This is a huge amount for minium coverage. The Lake County officers that do cover our village are exceptionable. The village needs much more and for that kind of money I could see to it. What about our children at school for instance? The contract does not provide for safety plans for our schools. Should we wait until the cows get out before closing the barn door? Does anyone realize that the Sherriff charges $90 an hour for the extra deputies (per the contract)at our fests? We are not prepared for the next decade. Every trip starts out with a first step. The first step for long Grove is to elect a professional. When the village pays rent for police it does not create any equity. We need now to start building infrastructure looking forward to when our own Police Department becomes a reality. The right man for the right job!Where, if anywhere, could the current budget be trimmed, and conversely, are there areas the budget does not give enough money to?The current board has been doing well with the budget.What is one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?The first step in moving towards a safer community would be the appointment of a Town Marshall. Even as an unpaid position it would give Long Grove "a seat at the table". This person, a certified police office, can liaison with the Sherriff's office along with neighboring communities to keep very informed of all activities of police interest. We need to start building equity by identifying the needs to move forward in the next 4 years. Identifying a location, perhaps in the fire station, where an office could be located. acquisition of a computer system to store data and secure information are only a couple of early steps. Re negotiate with the Sherriff downwards using any saved monies to fund the infrastructure costs.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?INTEGRITY. BALANCE. Shortly after announcing my intentions to run I was solicited by the Voice of Long Grove campaign manager to be on her slate. I was in for a rude awakening. As an insider I was privy to their campaign strategy. I refused to be scripted or deceptive and after a couple of private meetings she took me off their slate. The plan to throw a lot of money at the campaign and script the candidates just doesn't seem fair. Witness the lavish party at the Grove Country club with live entertainment, food and alcohol for all to attend. "Balance". One of the current issues up for vote is our iconic covered bridge. On Jan 24 at a board meeting with a packed house the true voice of long grove spoke. Loudly and passionately they wish to replace the bridge as it is, one lane covered. The voice party would like it replaced with a modern two lane bridge that ,incidentally, can support heavy commercial trucks. Voting was successfully blocked by trustee Borys, a voice party member himself. because he wanted "more information" on the subject. If he can only block the vote until the new board is seated then the voice will have at least 4 of the 6 seats and our historical bridge will be gone. I am also against the repeal of the gaming machines in the several businesses in the historic village. The income is helping revitalize our merchants and retain visitors.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Bill GatesWhat is the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?Honesty is the best policy, treat others as you would have them treat you.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?I wish I could of married my wife 10 years earlier.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?Probably gym! I ended up being inducted into the United States Martial arts hall of fame for my achievements in Aikido.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Listen to your parents.