Clarendon Hills Police Department Vet Named Interim Chief

In a move that could eventually lead to him being the permanent selection for Clarendon Hills chief of police, Clarendon Hills Village President Tom Karaba announced the village board's appointment of Ted Jenkins to the position of interim chief Monday for a six-month evaluation period.

“I really appreciate this opportunity to work with you and for you as the chief of police. I can screw up in a lot less than six months, though, I’ll tell you that,” Jenkins said to the laughs of meeting attendees.

Jenkins, a 27-year veteran of the  who has been the department’s deputy chief since 2008, has served as acting chief since Pat Anderson resigned suddenly in May after leading the force as chief since 2003. Less than a week before Anderson’s resignation, former Clarendon Hills Police officer Daniel Ryan was arrested and charged with the felony theft of five guns from the department’s evidence room.  

The interim chief said his department has been able to maintain stability since that eventful week.

“The Ryan thing is behind us,” Jenkins, 54, said. “We’ve already moved forward.”

Jenkins’ appointment comes three days after independent attorney Chuck Hervas reported to village administration . Hervas made several suggestions, but determined Ryan was not enabled by fundamental problems with department policies or procedures.

After Anderson's resignation, Karaba said, the village board approved an agreement with the recruitment firm Voorhees & Associates to conduct a search for a replacement, but an official contract with the recruitment firm was never signed.

Karaba said Monday that after six months, the village will re-evaluate Jenkins and determine if they want to install him as chief on a permanent basis. Karaba said Jenkins has been considered for the chief’s position since he expressed interest in the job right after Anderson’s resignation.

“Since Chief Anderson’s departure, [Jenkins] has performed very well in his capacity as acting chief,” Karaba said. “The process will allow us to eliminate the expense of a costly search but not force us to make a quick decision on a new chief.”

Jenkins said he and Anderson worked as “partners” on a lot of things and Jenkins ran day-to-day operations of the department as deputy chief.

“The things that Chief Anderson was really good at were researching new programs, reaching out to other departments and finding out what they’re doing, grant research, and all that stuff,” Jenkins said. “That’s the part that’s going to be different for me. That’s new for me.

“Chief Anderson … left a good legacy. He left a lot of good programs, a lot of good will behind and he was well liked. He was a great chief.”

Anderson came to the Clarendon Hills Police Department in 2003 to be chief. Jenkins, meanwhile, has extensive experience on the force as a detective, sergeant, and commander in addition to deputy chief. He said he knows most of the area business owners. Even the mail carriers know him, Jenkins said.

“I can’t walk through the downtown district without knowing somebody,” Jenkins said, also noting longtime relationships with Fire Chief Brian Leahy and Director of Public Works John Hayes. “It’s not a bad thing to be working in familiar surroundings with familiar people and people that you’ve really worked well with over the years.”

Jenkins lives in Downers Grove with his wife. He has four daughters, one son, and one granddaughter.