New police chief takes reins in Carpentersville
When Carpentersville hired Alan Popp as its police chief earlier this month, one of Popp’s first orders of business was to opt out of receiving a pension from the village.
Popp, 50, worked for the Streamwood Police Department for 28 years and already draws a pension from his years of service in that town. So for him, there was no need for him to start another pension, although legally, he could have.
“I pursued the position in Carpentersville out of the love of police work, not to go and build another pension,” Popp said. “That’s not my focus.”
The village will instead contribute $11,000 into a retirement fund for Popp, a move Human Resources Director Linda Mogren says is much cheaper than contributing to a pension.
Popp, who was sworn in Tuesday night, will be making $120,000 a year in Carpentersville.
Now that he’s here, Popp wants his administration to focus on accountability, being accessible to the public and developing relationships.
“I don’t believe in insulating myself,” Popp said, adding that he sees the department as problem solvers. “I expect to be involved.”
Popp, who ran Streamwood’s police department for six years up until last December, holds a bachelor’s degree from Judson University in management and leadership.
He beat out 39 other candidates for the job in Carpentersville, including Bob Beeter, one of Elgin’s former deputy police chiefs, who was the other finalist. The selection ended up coming down to their policing styles, Village Manager J. Mark Rooney said.
“I thought Mr. Al Popp had a better fit for Carpentersville,” Rooney said.
Carpentersville Deputy Chief Michael Kilbourne, installed as acting chief until the village hired a permanent chief, made it to the final six. He has since received a raise because he had done outstanding job running the department since Dave Neumann retired as chief in December, officials said.
On Monday, Kilbourne’s acting police chief’s salary of $122,166 a year, reverted back to the deputy chief salary of $113,952. That salary then increased to $116,500.
“He’s performed admirably on every issue that’s come before us,” Rooney said.