Herdegen honored for 11 years as Libertyville police chief
Former Libertyville Police Chief Clint Herdegen was honored this week for 11 years of service.
The veteran law enforcement officer had been on a 12-week medical leave for an unspecified ongoing illness when the village's police pension board on June 16 awarded him a non-duty disability pension.
"We were hopeful he would be able to come back, but medical circumstances wouldn't permit it," Mayor Donna Johnson said Friday.
Deputy Chief Ed Roncone has been serving as acting chief. The process to fill the position is expected to begin soon.
Herdegen had a 29-year career with the Hoffman Estates Police Department, officially retiring Sept. 30, 2010, after 12 years as chief. He was hired in Libertyville a few weeks later to replace retiring Chief Pat Carey.
Libertyville officials at the time said they had 52 applications for the post with five candidates receiving a second interview. Herdegen was selected based on his experience in Hoffman Estates, village officials said at the time.
He was recognized for outstanding service to the department at the village board meeting Tuesday.
According to a proclamation presented by Johnson, Herdegen was instrumental in many major public safety initiatives, including consolidating the village's 911 dispatch center with Vernon Hills, implementing the Lexipol policy and training system, and creating a school resource officer position for Libertyville Elementary District 70.
He served as a board member, president and past president of the Northern Illinois Police Alarm System; chairman of the Northwest Police Academy, which is dedicated to police executives; and past president of the Northeastern Illinois Regional Crime Laboratory.
He also was active with the Lake County Chiefs of Police and Lake County Opioid Initiative (A Way Out program).
Also on Tuesday, Herdegen's daughter, Kristine Herdegen, took the oath of office for village firefighter/paramedic. She started July 12 and is the fifth of six new hires by the department to replace those who have retired, according to Fire Chief Rich Carani.