Crystal Lake names new police chief

A law enforcement veteran has been tapped to take over the Crystal Lake Police Department when the long-serving chief of police retires at the end of the year.

James Black, currently deputy chief of police in Downers Grove, begins his service with the Crystal Lake police Jan. 7.

Crystal Lake City Manager Gary Mayerhofer said Black brings a wealth of experience having served Downers Grove in roles from police officer, patrol sergeant, operations lieutenant, and for the past six years as deputy chief.

A graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigations National Academy, Black also graduated from the Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command. He holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and a master’s degree in criminal/social justice from Lewis University.

In his role as Deputy Chief of Police in Downers Grove, Black collaborated with other local law enforcement agencies in DuPage County as the coordinator of the Felony Investigations Assistance Team that is comprised of a major crimes unit, S.W.A.T. team, a computer forensics unit, a canine unit, and an accident reconstruction unit, Mayerhofer said in a news release.

Black succeeds David Linder, who will retire after 32 years with the police department. Linder began his career with the Crystal Lake Police Department Sept. 2, 1980 as a police officer, eventually working his way up through the ranks until his appointment as chief of police Sept. 6, 2005.

“Chief Linder has been a dedicated professional and will be missed,” Mayerhofer said. “I believe that the police department is in a much better organizational position since he became chief. I am confident that Chief Black will continue to make certain that the police department provides the highest level of professional service to the community, ensuring that Crystal Lake continues to be a great place to live.”