Lake Forest is set to welcome a new police chief with the selection of Barrington’s John Burke as the next leader of the department.
City officials announced on Aug. 9 that Burke, currently the Barrington police chief, has been tabbed to oversee the city’s police force.
“I’m excited for the opportunity to work in Lake Forest,” Burke wrote in an e-mail. “Beyond its natural beauty, Lake Forest is a community where collaboration and trust between residents, elected officials and the police department are highly valued.”
Burke has worked for the Barrington Police Department for more than 24 years, and was promoted to chief in April. His professional background also includes various roles with the Northern Illinois Police Alarm System (NIPAS) Emergency Services Team over a stretch of nearly 20 years. In addition, he graduated from the Northwestern University Police School of Staff Command and the FBI National Academy.
“Lake Forest is excited to welcome John Burke as the next Chief of Police,” City Manager Jason Wicha said in a statement. “While there were many outstanding local and national candidates, John’s extensive leadership experience and emphasis on employee growth and training will continue the tradition of integrity and service in the Lake Forest Police Department.”
City spokeswoman Dana Olson said Burke was selected from a pool of 38 candidates, and three finalists.
He will retire from Barrington, where he can collect his pension, and come over to Lake Forest where his annual salary will be $190,000.
Burke replaces Karl Walldorf, who retired in April. Since then, Michael Lange has been serving as interim chief. Lange is now expected to return to his role of deputy chief of police.
Burke will take over as police chief with the department set to move into an empty building in the Conway Park office complex. Last month, the City Council approved a $3.5 million purchase of the building, and the process has already started toward a retrofit to adapt it for police use. The facility will be much larger than the current headquarters on Deerpath Road.
“The proposed new police facility adds another layer of excitement,” Burke wrote. “A modern police facility will enable the department to operate even more efficiently. This new facility represents not just an upgrade in infrastructure but also a renewed commitment to public safety by the Lake Forest community.
“My goals will be to uphold the values and standards set by Chief Walldorf, while leveraging the capabilities of the new facility to drive innovation and improve service delivery, ultimately fostering an even safer and more connected community in Lake Fores,” he said.
City officials said the building adaption will represent a new challenge for Burke.
“While Burke may not have direct experience converting a police station, his strong leadership and collaborative approach will be invaluable as the city begins the new police station project,” Olson wrote. “The project will be a collective effort involving many key stakeholders, including Burke, city staff, architects and engineers, and the community.”
The City Council is scheduled to vote on approving his contract at their Sept. 3 meeting.