Darien ready to fill police chief vacancy

DARIEN — A patrol commander for an Illinois police department is poised to be the next chief of police in the village of Darien.

The Darien Village Board on Saturday voted unanimously to offer the job to Hunter Gilmore of St. Charles, Ill.

A new chief is expected to start work Oct. 1.

Gilmore works as a patrol commander for the Carol Stream, Ill., Police Department, according to a news release from the village of Darien.

He has 22 years of police experience, the release states.

Gilmore has associates and bachelor’s degrees in criminal justice as well as a master’s degree in leadership studies.

He has entered a doctoral program in leadership studies, the release states. He lives in St. Charles, Ill.

The board authorized hiring consultant Moffett & Associates to make the offer to Gilmore after nine hours of interviewing five finalists for the position.

Before he can be hired, Gilmore must pass a psychological test, a medical exam, a drug screen and a background investigation.

He also must negotiate a salary and benefits package.

The village board has authorized Administrator Diana Dykstra to negotiate the package, the release states.

The other finalists were: Robert Meiners, a lieutenant with the Lincolnwood, Ill., Police Department; Terrance Freeman, retired detective from the Woodridge, Ill., Police Department; Daniel Layber, a special agent for the Wisconsin Division of Criminal Investigation; and Richard Kendall, an officer with the Town of Geneva Police Department.

The village has been without a chief since December 2008 when the village board suspended former Chief Steve DeVoy. The board later voted to fire DeVoy, but the decision could not be finalized without a disciplinary hearing.

Before a hearing was scheduled, the two parties settled.