Elgin commander selected as police chief in Rockford
Elgin Police Cmdr. Dan O'Shea Thursday was named police chief in Rockford.
The Rockford Board of Fire and Police Commissioners made its unanimous pick after O'Shea “rose to the top” during Wednesday's six-hour, real-life scenarios assessment, board secretary Ian Linnabary said.
“The assessment keyed in on his leadership style,” Linnabary said. “He has an air about him, a presence. It was even once referred to as a ‘swagger' in a positive sense. He exudes leadership and confidence, and we believe he'll inspire that in the department and inspire confidence in the citizens he'll serve.”
“I'm looking forward to making some changes, and have an open communication with the police, the union and the public,” said O'Shea, 48, a 27-year law enforcement veteran who's worked in Elgin since 1999.
“I look forward to taking the biggest concerns that have been voiced to me regarding the crime issues and juvenile initiatives,” added O'Shea, who was selected over Rockford Police Assistant Deputy Chief Doug Pann.
The Rockford City Council is not required to approve the appointment, which is at the board's discretion, Linnabary said. City administration officials will negotiate employment terms, including start date and salary, which was advertised between $125,400 and $157,400. O'Shea's gross pay was $142,900 in 2015, according to city of Elgin data.
The board also was impressed by Elgin's track record of decreasing crime over the decades, Linnabary said. “It's no secret that we struggle with relatively high violent crime rates.”
Former Rockford Police Chief Chet Epperson, who retired in November after he was appointed to a federal post, had a controversial tenure during which he struggled to gain the support of administration and rank-and-life officers, Linnabary said. “We were looking for somebody who could bridge that divide,” he said.
Mayor David Kaptain said O'Shea is the latest example of Elgin officers who have taken police chief jobs, including Cecil Smith in Sanford, Florida, Jim Lamkin in St. Charles and now Schaumburg, and Glenn Theriault in Sycamore.
“It just shows the quality of our police department, and reflects on the community that we've dedicated years and years to build a strong infrastructure,” he said.
O'Shea credited the support and mentoring he received over the years from Police Chief Jeff Swoboda and City Manager Sean Stegall.
“I love my job in Elgin. Elgin has been a great place to work, a group of officers that have been second to none supporting me,” he said. “That will be the hardest part of taking the chief job in Rockford — leaving Elgin.”