On Monday the Burr Ridge mayor and board of trustees, friends and family bid an official farewell to Police Chief John Madden who is retiring after 34 years on the force.
Madden was appointed chief by Mayor Gary Grasso in 2009 and, again, Grasso said it was fitting he should see him off.
“I’m proud to have appointed you and I’m proud to still be sitting here to read this resolution,” Grasso said.
In the resolution, Grasso praised the chief’s ongoing emphasis on officer training and improvement, adoption of new policing technologies, and his leadership efforts across communities and counties for the betterment of public safety.
“John Madden has over his 34 years of service provided professional and outstanding service to Burr Ridge residents, businesses, mayors, trustees and employees, all of whom are urged to recognize John Madden’s exemplary dedication to the Village of Burr Ridge,” Grasso read.
Besides that, Grasso noted that Madden’s efforts have made the community safer, and just as important, the mayor noted that residents feel safe.
“And feeling safe is half the job,” he said.
The board members echoed similar praise.
“It’s amazing,” said Trustee Russ Smith. “It’s just a credit to all the things you’ve done. It’s never a 9-to-5 job for you. you’ve been above and beyond for Burr Ridge.”
Trustee Joe Snyder noted that even when the chief was on vacation, he would answer trustee calls within minutes.
Madden’s supporters packed the Village Hall to capacity and about two dozen people were standing along the walls as the trustees accepted the chief’s retirement and they broke into a standing ovation as it passed.
Madden thanked everyone.
“It’s a very special night,” he said. “I couldn’t be happier leaving the keys to Marc to lead the agency, to lead our police department. … I’m so proud of these officers.”
He noted the whole department had come a long way since he started and he was thrilled to leave beloved by residents and the administration.
“I’m just happy as hell,” Madden said. “I appreciate it.”
Following Madden’s send-off, the mayor and board approved Deputy Police Chief Marc Loftus as Madden’s replacement. Loftus has worked for the department for decades and he said he feels Madden prepared him well — and he made him feel at home from his first weeks on the force, 26 years ago.
Loftus said within the first two weeks of being hired, he was having lunch with Madden, who at the time was a senior detective, and Madden noticed someone had taken his lunch from the department’s refrigerator and asked who’d eaten his food.
“I said, ‘you’re the detective, you figure it out,’” Loftus laughed. “He hasn’t held that against me for these 26 years.”
Loftus was approved unanimously and Trustee Guy Franzese said he had confidence in Loftus’ ability to lead the department.
“I have every confidence in Deputy Chief Mark Loftus, that he will perform his duties at the highest level,” Franzese said.
Jesse Wright is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
