Oswego Police Chief Jeff Burgner has announced he will retire next month after being at the helm of the police department since 2014.
His last day as chief is set for June 13, village officials said.
The village will begin the process of selecting the next police chief over the coming months, according to officials.
Burgner has led several initiatives during his time as police chief, according to a news release announcing his retirement.
He was part of the planning and construction of the $30 million Oswego Police Headquarters which opened in 2018. The 68,200-square-foot police station was built on the east-central side of the village and designed to meet the needs of a growing community and provide a modernized facility, officials said.
In 2021, the Oswego Police Department received its sixth accreditation award, making it among only 5% of Illinois law enforcement agencies that are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, the news release said.
“It has been my honor and privilege to work with the amazing men and women of the Oswego Police Department. I will forever be thankful for the friendships, support and dedication from everyone I had the privilege to work with,” he said in the release.
Burgner was hired as a police officer in Oswego in 1996, became a detective in 2000 and was promoted to sergeant in 2004. He graduated from Northwestern University’s Center for Public Safety School of Police Staff and Command in 2007 and went on to be appointed police captain in 2010.
Outgoing Oswego Village President Troy Parlier praised Burgner for his work as police chief.
“There is not enough that can be said about Jeff’s commitment and contributions to Oswego,” Parlier said in the release. “He has led a first-class operation that has always kept our community’s safety and well-being as their priority. It has been my privilege to be associated with Jeff and this organization these past four years.”
Parlier, a Republican, was defeated by Ryan Kauffman in the race for village president in last month’s election. Kauffman and the new members of the Village Board will be sworn-in during a ceremony at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Oswego Village Hall, 100 Parkers Mill. A special meeting of the Village Board will follow the ceremony.
Linda Girardi is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News