Two Oak Brook police detectives are going to be sharing their talents with another agency on a part-time basis.
Scott Warren and Blake Swegler were chosen by Police Chief Brian Strockis as the Oak Brook department’s first officers to serve as Secret Service Task Force Officers and are assigned to the Chicago Cyber Fraud Unit. They will be working in conjunction with the Secret Service on a variety of cases that fall into that purview.
The Secret Service assigned Agent Dave Hider to work out of the Oak Brook Police Department in 2022, and the success with this partnership led to the opportunity for Warren and Swegler, said Detective Sgt. Jason Wood.
“This is another example of the Oak Brook Police Department growing relationships with our fellow law enforcement partners,” he said.
Wood said Warren and Swegler are the Oak Brook departments “go-to investigators” when it comes to financial crimes.
“Their knowledge, expertise and willingness to take the extra step have allowed them to be recognized by outside agencies such as the Secret Service,” Wood said.
He said the assignment to the Task Force for the Oak Brook detectives will allow them to bring in additional resources under the Oak Brook Police Department jurisdiction, including additional personnel, technology and training. Their initial assignment is for 3 years with the possibility of an extension.
“The task force assignment will be a positive impact for our detectives, the Oak Brook Police Department and the community as a whole,” Wood said.
Warren has been with the Oak Brook department for 28 years, seven of which were as a dispatcher and the remaining 21 as an officer. He was a patrol officer for eight years and has been a detective for 13 years.
It was while working as a dispatcher that Wood decided to pursue a career in policing, he said.
“I am looking forward to working and learning alongside agents of the Secret Service,” Warren said. “Our workload will depend on the Secret Service needs and the Oak Brook Police Department needs for additional manpower while conducting an investigation.”
Warren said he is interested in being a part of the Chicago Cyber Fraud Unit because of the amount of financial crimes investigated by the Oak Brook department and added that he expects the experience he gains with the Unit will help in his work with the Oak Brook department.
“Especially with the amount of fraud investigated by our agency,” he said.
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Swegler has been with the Oak Brook department for 10 years, working eight years as a patrol officer and two as a detective. He decided to pursue a career in law enforcement while in his early 20s.
“I thought it would be a fascinating and interesting career,” he said. “Due to the amount of financial crimes investigated in Oak Brook, this will assist greatly in future endeavors, specifically with forgery and fraud-based financial crimes and cases.”
Chuck Fieldman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.