Grayslake Rotarian Larry Herzog to Retire from Police Chief Position

Posted by Mike Kukulski 
on Mar 13, 2011
 
The Grayslake Rotary Club's favorite Police Chief, Larry Herzog, has announced his plans to retire from the Grayslake Police Department effective in early July 2011.  We are sure that this will allow Larry even more time to manage the club's Happy Dollar and 50-50 raffle programs.   Please be sure to congratulate Larry on his upcoming retirement and thank him for his dedication in a life of public service.

 


In a letter to Grayslake Mayor Rhett Taylor, Chief Herzog said “It is with very mixed emotions that I plan to retire after my 13th anniversary as Police Chief this July 1st. I will miss serving with the staff of the Grayslake Police Department and the Village’s other departments but look forward to spending more time with my three children and eight grandchildren”. 

 

Mayor Rhett Taylor commented on Chief Herzog’s service to the Village: “Grayslake has benefited greatly from Chief Herzog’s service to the community. Not only is our Police Department well recognized in the law enforcement community but the citizens and businesses of Grayslake think highly of the Department. Our organization will miss Larry’s experience and insights. We all wish him well in his retirement”. 

 

Grayslake Village Manager Mike Ellis: “It has been both a personal and professional pleasure to work with Chief Herzog over the last thirteen years. He has been an outstanding member of our team and is responsible for making our Police Department one of the best and most innovative in our area. He is irreplaceable and I know the entire staff will miss his advice, ideas and his great sense of humor”. 

 

During Chief Herzog’s tenure the Police Department has progressed in a number of ways in order to better serve the community. In 2001 the department became one of the small percentage of police departments to be accredited by the Commissions on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies and has been reaccredited three times since then. Improved technologies, continual training, and a team approach to solve budget and personnel issues have been instituted. A new police station was constructed and opened in 2008. The Department’s community policing programs and investigative capacities were greatly expanded including the high school resource officers, crime prevention programs, and inter-agency agreements. In 2010 the department began providing police services within the Village of Hainesville under a contract between Hainesville and Grayslake. 

 

“I am most proud of the many ways that the men and women of the Police Department have become highly committed to the residents, businesses, and students in Grayslake, and how they have become part of the community” said Herzog. 

 

Herzog was appointed chief in Grayslake on July 1st, 1998, after a 26 year career with the Park Ridge, Illinois Police Department.