Bolingbrook shuffles public safety leadership roles, names new police chief

The Bolingbrook Village Board voted at its meeting Tuesday night to change up the public safety administrative structure after a new police chief was named.

The board eliminated the position of public safety director to return to having a police chief and fire chief leading those respective departments.

The change came after former public safety director Ken Teppel became a co-administrator for the village in late July, around the time that longtime Mayor Roger Claar stepped down.

Deputy Police Chief Michael Rompa was promoted to become chief of police.

Mary Alexander Basta was appointed acting mayor by the board, and Teppel and Lucas Rickelman were appointed to be co-village administrators to run the day-to-day operations of village government.

A search is underway to fill a vacancy for the fire chief position.

Village Trustee Bob Jaskiewicz asked Teppel during Tuesday’s meeting what the advantages to such a move would be.

Teppel told the trustee the move made sense in light of the other administrative changes the village recently made. He said the chiefs will act as the “chief executive officers” of their departments.

He said the move would not have any impact on the village’s budget. Jaskiewicz later said Rompa would not see a salary increase.

Also at Tuesday’s meeting, Basta said the local firefighters’ union was in favor of the change because it wanted a chief to lead the department.

She lauded the change, saying “overall, it’s a great move for everybody.”