Incoming police chief: Northbrook is 'the perfect place for me'
On March 1, Northbrook Village Manager Rich Nahrstadt announced the hiring of Christopher Kennedy as the village's new chief of police.
Kennedy has nearly three decades of experience in law enforcement with the Chicago Police Department (CPD) and is currently serving as deputy chief/executive officer overseeing Counter Terrorism and Special Operations.
Kennedy's experience includes more than 12 years of command-level leadership and strategic planning.
"I'm really excited. I've been in law enforcement just about 29 years, just with the Chicago Police Department, and it just seems like a wonderful opportunity," said Kennedy, who lives on the far Northwest Side of Chicago.
"Obviously I did my research before I applied and everything I found said that it was a well-functioning department," he said of the Northbrook force. "I looked at the general orders, that they were progressive. There weren't really any problems existing. They were a respected police department in a great community. It just seemed like a great place to work."
Throughout his career with the CPD, Kennedy has held the positions of police officer, sergeant and commanding officer or watch commander with the CPD's Targeted Response Unit, Marine & Helicopter Unit, the Gang Investigation Division of the Bureau of Organized Crime, and as a district commander of the 001st District.
He also served as deputy chief of Street Operations before his current role in Counter Terrorism and Special Operations.
Kennedy has been recognized with more than 90 awards and commendations for search and rescue, lifesaving, skill and fitness.
A news release by the Village of Northbrook noted that Kennedy believed the Northbrook Police Department to be "the perfect place for me to begin the next chapter of my law enforcement career," and he was "excited for the opportunity to mentor officers and strengthen community relationships."
Coming from a position where currently he's in command of close to 1,000 people, he said, Kennedy is looking forward to a greater ability to "make and maintain connections" in the Northbrook department.
"One of the appeals is that as I've found through my career there is, at least for me, a sweet spot," Kennedy said. "A command of that size in Northbrook that has 66 sworn officers, you really get to know the person, their strengths and weaknesses, their family, what motivates them."
In the release, Kennedy said: "I am honored to have been chosen to lead one of the most revered departments in the state of Illinois."
Following the retirement of current Northbrook Chief of Police Roger Adkins, Kennedy will begin his role as Northbrook's chief in early April.