La Grange moved closer to solving a long-standing shortage of patrol officers Monday night when a new officer was sworn in at the regular Village Board meeting.
Parker Henderson, 23, was appointed Dec. 15, 2021 by the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners to the position of Probationary Police Officer.
“I feel great,” Henderson said before the ceremony. “I expect I’ll be learning a lot because there’s a lot to learn.”
Henderson is a 2021 graduate of St. Ambrose University, where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in business sales, and most recently worked as an intern in the finance industry.
He graduated from the Suburban Law Enforcement Academy (SLEA) at the College of DuPage earlier this month, completing a 14-week training regimen.
Henderson will now complete an additional 12 weeks of training with an experienced officer.
Police Chief Robert Wardlaw spoke after the ceremony about efforts to address the shortage in manpower.
More Top Picks Best Sunglasses With Clearest View
“In addition to Parker, we have another officer in field training and two more in the academy,” he said after the meeting, “and we’re still looking to hire three more.”
Wardlaw indicated that the Department had been short a total of 7 officers and praised many in the Village for supporting his efforts.
“We’ve had great support from the Village Board and staff, the Fire and Police Commissioners, and the residents of La Grange,” he said.
Wardlaw seeks to make good on delivering on his promise to correct the manpower shortage he noted when promoted from Deputy Chief in December 2021.
Village President Mark Kuchler said after the meeting that the Village was exploring changes to requirements for hiring new officers.
“We’re working with the Chief and staff to broaden the requirements for new officers,” he said.
Kuchler said one new practice was to allow what he called “lateral hires,” meaning hiring from other police departments to fill positions other than promotions.
Previously it had been the policy of the Department to require new officers to have an associate degree, or two years of college.
Wardlaw said that one possibility would be to allow the substitution of military service for the traditional requirement of two years of college.
But he also cautioned that staff and the Fire and Police Commissioners would have to be consulted on the matter.
The next La Grange Village Board meeting will be April 25 at 7:30 p.m. at the La Grange Village Hall Auditorium, 53 S. La Grange Rd.
Hank Beckman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.