Timothy Griffin was sworn in as La Grange Police Chief during the Aug. 28 the regular Village Board meeting.
He was originally sworn in Aug. 8 in a special board meeting, but the process was repeated so the public and his supporters could be present.
Griffin’s starting salary is $146,570 as a regular at-will employee, meaning he serves without a contract. He will be enrolled in the police pension fund, and as a village employee will be entitled to the same health, vacation and other benefits as any employee.
“The first thing I plan on doing is spending time with the staff and the department,” Griffin said before the ceremony. “We have a great staff that has been working so hard all summer long to maintain our service deliveries and provide the most professional policing that any officer can provide. At this point I’m just taking it all in and listening.”
Griffin noted the staffing shortages the department has struggled with in recent years.
“We have had some shortages, but we’re working though them,” he said. “We’ve had a couple openings and we’re testing right now with the recruiting test and we hope to have those vacancies filled in the next few months.”
Griffin praised the current police staff.
“I’m just really impressed with how hard the department works, and how they and how hard the officers work for this village,” he said. “They do such a variety of tasks.”
Griffin has spent his entire 25-year law enforcement career with the Mount Prospect Police Department.
Since 2014, he has been the Deputy Chief of Police, Administrative and Support Division. Before that, he served as an administrative sergeant, patrol sergeant, detective/school resource officer, detective, and patrol officer.
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Griffin earned a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice from St. Xavier University, and a Masters in Law Enforcement and Justice Administration from the Western Illinois University, a Graduate Certificate in Public Budgeting and Financial Management from the University of Illinois Chicago, and graduated from the Executive Management and Staff and Command program from Northwestern University.
Griffin is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, and a Certified Eligible Chief of Police through the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police. He also holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Organizational Leadership from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology.
The vote to approve Griffin was unanimous and trustees were upbeat about the appointment.
“I’m excited to welcome Chief Griffin to La Grange,” Trustee Lou Gale said. “He comes with a wealth of experience and I look forward to working with him for years to come.”
Trustee Beth Augustine agreed, saying Griffin was “a very good fit for the Village. It’s not often your police chief is also a PhD. He has shown a keen interest in expanding his knowledge base and areas of expertise above and beyond what would be required of a chief and that will serve our community and the officers he leads very well.”
The Village also filled the position of finance director when the Board approved Susan Mika to replace the recently retired Lou Cipparrone.
Mika has over 23 years experience in municipal government and has handled annual budgets, audits, long-term financial planning, managing TIF funds, and capital improvement budgeting.
She most recently served as finance director for the Village of Winfield, and holds a Master’s Certificate of Leadership Studies from North Central College, and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Communication Studies from Elmhurst University.
Mika’s responsibilities will include being Budget Director, Collector, Comptroller, and Treasurer.
Like Griffin an at-will employee, Mika’s salary will be $151,500, and she will be entitled to all village benefits. She will also participate in the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund.
The next La Grange Village board meeting will by 7:30 p.m., Sept. 11 in La Grange village Hall, 53 S. La Grange Rd.
Hank Beckman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.