Tinley Park Gets Nearly 100 Applications For Police Chief
TINLEY PARK (WBBM) -- It could be a sign of the times. Officials in Tinley Park have received nearly 100 applications for the police chief vacancy in the southwest suburb.
WBBM Newsradio's Regine Schlesinger reports that village officials have begun sorting through all the résumés.
After Tinley Park Police Chief Mike O'Connell died in May, the village appointed an interim chief – Phil Valois – and began a search for a new chief.
LISTEN: WBBM Newsradio's Regine Schlesinger reports
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Village Trustee Brian Maher didn't expect quite so many applicants and said he thinks it's because many police departments have been downsizing their command forces.
"The number of applicants probably has something to do with the economy and the fact that a lot of departments have been shrinking, trying to make their payroll and salary and budget constraints," he said.
Maher said the village will whittle the list of 99 candidates down to about 15 and then choose one of those by the end of the year.
The new chief will earn up to $125,000 a year commanding a 124-member police force.