Wood Dale inks first police chief contract

For the first time in Wood Dale's history, the city's police chief has earned himself a contract.

Such pacts are common in most DuPage County communities, but Wood Dale has never had that tradition.

Mayor Ken Johnson said that it's never been an issue with former police chiefs. But Wood Dale presently is searching for a new city manager -- a position that oversees the police chief.

A contract will help secure and retain the services of Chief Frank Biniewicz.

"It gives him a certain amount of security with the (upcoming) change," Johnson said Friday. "It's a vote of confidence for Frank and the job he's doing."

The city council has approved a three-year contract with Biniewicz that expires Dec. 31, 2011.

His new contract guarantees him a base salary of $112,500 this year. He will receive a 3.5 percent increase next year, jumping his salary to $116,437. By the end of his contract, he will make $124,730. He will receive the same fringe benefits provided to other similar city positions.

"I'm very happy with it," Biniewicz said. "I appreciate that I can continue to work to serve the citizens of Wood Dale."

Biniewicz has spent his entire law enforcement career in Wood Dale. During the past 32 years, he has served as a patrol officer, detective sergeant, investigative commander and deputy chief before being promoted to his current position in 2005.

Under his leadership as chief and deputy, the police department has become an award-winning specimen with a top-of-the-line video surveillance system throughout the city.

Biniewicz has helped implement a camera at the rail crossing at Irving Park Road east of Wood Dale Road -- commonly known as "cop-in-a-box."

Last year, the department mounted radar-triggered cameras at the intersection of Wood Dale and Thorndale Avenue to cut down on accidents and red-light violations.

The department is one of a few agencies in the state to achieve national accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies. In 2002, it was recognized by the Regional Institute for Community Policing of the University of Illinois for having one of the most outstanding community policing programs in the state.