Huntley police chief to retire; Downers Grove chief to step in

HUNTLEY – It's the people Huntley Police Chief John Perkins will miss the most after he retires from a 40-year career in law enforcement at the end of the month.

The 60-year-old Aurora man served 10 years as police chief in Huntley, a time during which he said he met a lot of good people, both at work and throughout the community of about 26,000.

“What I’m really proud of is the people who work for Huntley Police Department,” Perkins said. “I’ve seen such a change in them.

“It was such a young department when I got there, so I’ve watched a lot of them grow up, and eventually have children, so that’s been really rewarding.”

He said although he’s glad to be retiring, it’s a bittersweet feeling after the recent tragedies in law enforcement.

Fox Lake Police Lt. Joseph Gliniewicz died Sept. 1 after an on-duty shooting, and the investigation still is ongoing. A day shy of two weeks later, McHenry County Sheriff's Deputy Dwight Maness died Monday from a blood clot in his lungs, almost a year after he also was shot in the back and leg while on duty.

“I’m happy to retire, but it’s also a time for mourning with the loss of officers, especially in our area,” Perkins said.

Under his leadership, the department attained accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement in 2010 and was re-accredited in 2013, according to a Huntley news release.

The department also has transitioned from a small community to a respected agency with programs such as the Citizen Police Academy and the Community Response Team, among several others, Village Manager David Johnson said in the release.

“We wish Chief Perkins all the best in his retirement and thank him for his many years of dedicated service to the village,” Johnson said.

Looking forward, he said he plans to help his wife of 39 years, Ann, with her business and spend time with his three adult sons and six grandkids.

Stepping in to the position is Robert Porter, who currently serves as the police chief in Downers Grove. Porter brings experience of a 28-year career with the Downers Grove Police Department, where he has served as chief for 15 years.

Huntley Mayor Charles Sass said there was a great pool of applicants for the job.

“We are excited to bring Chief Porter to Huntley,” Sass said in the release. “We are confident that his experience and leadership will serve our community well as we continue to grow and face the many challenges growth brings.”

The release also states Porter and his family plan to move to Huntley.

“I look forward to being active in the community and enhancing outreach programs,” he said. “I still love being a police officer and believe police work is still an incredibly noble profession. It will be my honor to serve as Huntley’s next police chief.”

With a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and a master’s in public safety administration from Lewis University, Porter will begin his duties Oct. 12.

He also is a graduate of Northwestern University’s School of Police Staff and Command and the FBI National Academy, the release said.