'On behalf of a grateful community ...'

The Mount Prospect Police Department will soon bid a fond farewell to Officer William "Bill" Roscop, known to many simply as Officer Friendly.

Officer Roscop will complete his 30th year of service to the village in early January 2010 and has elected to enjoy a richly deserved retirement shortly after the start of the new year.

The Village of Mount Prospect enjoys in Officer Roscop, a tireless public servant and a champion for our youth.

The epitome of a professional law enforcement officer, I have come to know Officer Roscop well over the past 25 years, and I have developed a deep respect and admiration for the strength of his calling to serve his fellow man and the man himself.

Few, if any, Mount Prospect police officers have had the positive personal contact with as many members of this community as has Officer Roscop during his 22 years assigned to the Crime Prevention Unit.

Officer Roscop's impact on our schools, veterans and senior citizen groups, to our charitable organizations and other government-sponsored institutions, has been significant and his footprint on this community unmistakably large.

This is best evidenced by his selection as one of the Seven Wonders of Mount Prospect in 2008.

Over the course of his 30-year career, Officer Roscop received both Officer of the Year and Officer of the Quarter department honors, numerous department commendations and honorable mentions, a Mount Prospect Shining Star Award, the first ever Lifetime Achievement Award from the Illinois Crime Prevention Officers Association, the Cook County Sheriff's Law Enforcement Award of Merit and literally thousands of citizens letters of appreciation.

The creative force behind many of the department's most successful community outreach and education programs, Officer Roscop was in many ways a pioneer within his policing specialty.

As the media relations/public information officer, he established solid relationships based on honesty, integrity and fairness with members of the greater Chicagoland media community and became the face and voice of the police department on matters of public interest in the process.

The greatest resource within an organization is its people. Our organization is fortunate to have among its ranks dozens of dedicated professionals, but Officer Roscop stands out among his peers and deserves special recognition for his many years of exceptional service to his community, department and profession.

Too often in the public sector, we announce retirements contemporaneously with the effective date of the retirement.

I feel it is important to share with the community in advance that Officer Roscop will be leaving us in a few short months - so Mount Prospect residents and others can express their thanks and well wishes to him personally.

One of "Mount Prospect's Finest" will soon embark on the next chapter of his life, but I am confident the community will not soon forget the zest he brought to his many roles nor the meaningful contributions Officer Roscop made to the quality of life enjoyed by our residents today.

On behalf of a grateful community and a proud police department, I offer a heartfelt thank you for a job well done, Officer Friendly!

Chief John K. Dahlberg

Mount Prospect Police Department