Former CHPD Chief Talks About Recently Retired Anderson

A face familiar to Clarendon Hills residents popped up in Bensenville recently. It was that of former Clarendon Hills Police Chief Tom Reasoner—and it was on a Dunkin' Donuts roof.

Reasoner was an officer of the for 25 years, 16 of which he spent as chief. On May 20, he was one of hundreds of police officers who took to Dunkin' Donuts roofs all over Chicagoland for the "cop on top" fundraiser for Special Olympics in Illinois.

Reasoner, who is now a deputy director at North East Multi-Regional Training, was asked about fellow former CHPD Chief Pat Anderson, who after nearly eight years spent as chief. Anderson took over in 2003 after Reasoner retired from the department.

Reasoner said he met Anderson when the latter took over the position and has kept in touch through chiefs' breakfasts and training equipment delivery in his new job.

"The thing I'll remember most is he was able to continue on with my efforts to get a new police department built," Reasoner said of Anderson. "And he got that job done and got a very nice police department for the officers and the community."

Reasoner's retirement advice to Anderson, who served on the Deerfield force before Clarendon Hills, was simple. 

"Enjoy it," Reasoner said. "I know that Chief Anderson, this is going to be his second retirement from law enforcement. I hope he takes some time and enjoys it."

Reasoner said it was a hard decision to leave the CHPD.

"It's always difficult, but when other opportunities present themselves it's nice to be able to take advantage of those. It was probably one of the most difficult things I've done is retiring from that position." 

Joe O'Donnell contributed to this story.