Gurnee removes 'interim' label from police chief's title

Gurnee's interim police chief, Brian Smith, officially was promoted to the top job before a standing-room-only crowd at the village board meeting Monday night.

Smith, who has been with the village police since 2000, has been leading the department since former Chief Kevin Woodside retired at the end of last year.

Smith's new badge was pinned to his chest, after a small bit of difficulty, by his 7-year-old son, Jacob. After thanking his son and his wife, Traci, Smith began searching the packed chambers for his old boss.

“Chief Woodside is here somewhere; I'm looking for the beard,” Smith said, referring to the impressive white one Woodside has grown since retiring. “I'm honored to have been his deputy chief and, with his assistance and his support, be given this opportunity today. So Kevin, thank you for everything you've done for the men and women of the department, the community and myself.”

After the meeting, Woodside said he was honored to have been part of preparing Smith to be the next chief.

“I know him and Deputy Chief Jesse Gonzalez are going to be extremely capable leaders for Gurnee for years to come,” Woodside said.

After the ceremony for Smith, Gonzalez was promoted to deputy chief.

In Gurnee, department heads such as the police chief are appointed each year by the mayor, usually each May. The mayor's selections are then voted on by the village board.

Mayor Kristina Kovarik told the crowd that she was proud to promote Smith and said he has the confidence of the department. After Woodside announced his retirement in the fall, Kovarik said the village would not to do a national search for a new chief, an indication of her confidence in Smith.

The ceremony happened before a packed chamber. More than a dozen uniformed Gurnee police officers stood in the back of the room.

Along with Smith and Gonzalez, several other Gurnee officials and residents were honored at the meeting, and much of the crowd came to provide support for one person or another.

No one had a larger cheering section than Gonzalez, who had more than 20 family members join him up front for a group picture.