St. Charles Police Chief James Keegan will be stepping down as chief on March 19, according to a press release from the city on Thursday.
St. Charles Deputy Police Chief Eric Majewski will serve as interim chief while the St. Charles Police Department searches for Keegan’s replacement.
Keegan has been on a personal leave of absence since Nov. 6, 2024, the news release said.
The city declined to comment on the reason for Keegan’s resignation.
He has worked as chief of the department since 2014, coming to St. Charles from the police department in Streamwood, according to the release.
During his time as police chief in St. Charles, the department led an investigation into a human trafficking ring on the near west side of the city, the news release said. According to past reporting, officials believed it was connected to related enterprises in Chicago, Aurora, Elgin, South Elgin, Hanover Park and an unincorporated area near Palatine.
Five people were arrested and charged with multiple felonies in connection with the investigation in July 2023.
Also during Keegan’s tenure in St. Charles, a new police station was built, and a new Public Safety Training Center opened that serves 35 Chicago-area police departments, according to the release.
“We respect Chief Keegan’s decision to resign and greatly appreciate the notable list of accomplishments the St. Charles Police Department achieved under his leadership,” said St. Charles Mayor Lora Vitek in the release. “Throughout his career, he has been dedicated to public service. He developed an outstanding staff in our police department and we are confident Deputy Chief Majewski will successfully uphold the department’s tradition of providing community-oriented public safety while we search for a new chief of police.”
