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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
CHARLES WALSH RETIREMENT, ELK GROVE VILLAGE CHIEF OF POLICE
WHEREAS, Charles Walsh has served as Chief of the Elk Grove Village Police Department for more than six years; and
WHEREAS, Chief Walsh has served in law enforcement with Elk Grove Village for 32 years, having joined the Department in 1991 as a Patrol Officer following his service with the United States Air Force, later being promoted to Sergeant in 2002, and then to Commander in 2007; and
WHEREAS, Chief Walsh was appointed to the rank of Deputy Chief in 2011, where he oversaw criminal investigations, juvenile investigations, evidence section, records section, crime prevention, police accreditation, internal affairs, and the Citizen Emergency Response Team; and
WHEREAS, Chief Walsh has continued to maintain the Department’s status as a fully accredited agency by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA)-the gold standard in public safety; and
WHEREAS, he developed several innovations for the safety, wellbeing, and development of Elk Grove Village, including the development of ‘Elk Grove Village Cares’, which diverts those who struggle with substance use disorder from the criminal justice system and into a funded medical treatment program that addresses chronic addictions; and
WHEREAS, he also helped in the creation of ‘Northwest Compass’ (SAFE), a program to assist homeless individuals in the northwest suburbs by providing shelter and services; and
WHEREAS, Chief Walsh also established an adjudication program for local Village violations to help alleviate the county court system; and
WHEREAS, he oversaw a period of labor and management collaboration, successfully negotiating two collective bargaining agreements by working closely and transparently with union representatives; and
WHEREAS, Chief Walsh sought to continually improve the Department and its operations, such as through the department-wide rollout of body-worn cameras for police officers and public service officers, resulting in the Village’s distinction by researchers at ‘backgroundchecks.org’ as one of Illinois’ safest communities in 2019; and
WHEREAS, Cook County and the Cook County Board of Commissioners have had the honor of working with Chief Walsh and he has proved to be a wonderful partner; and
WHEREAS, Chief Walsh will now be retired and able to spend more time with his friends and family;
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Board of Commissioners of Cook County that the Board does hereby offer its congratulations to Charles on his retirement from the position of Chief of the Elk Grove Village Police Department; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this text be spread upon the official proceedings of this Honorable Body, and suitable copies be tendered to Charles Walsh as he enjoys every day of his retirement. end