Ken Teppel Takes Over Bolingbrook's Police, Fire Departments

BOLINGBROOK, IL - A long-time veteran of the Bolingbrook Police Department was recently tapped by Mayor Roger Claar to serve as public safety director of this growing village of 76,000 residents. The 48-year-old Ken Teppel replaces Tom Ross, who retired in late October. When he started at Illinois Benedictine College, Teppel majored in biology. He eventually earned a bachelor's in criminal justice management and has master's degrees in public safety administration plus management and organizational behavior.

He told Patch that he's glad he pursued a career in the police profession, rather than pursue biology. Teppel joined the Bolingbrook police department, first as a cadet, in 1988. He became a full-time officer in December 1990. "I really enjoy it. I enjoy the people side of it. I love what I do. I love Bolingbrook, and I love the police department. The department is second to none. We're certainly up there in the top 10 (percent) for law enforcement in the country."

With Bolingbrook, Teppel has been a patrol officer, a school resource officer, a detective, a patrol sergeant and patrol lieutenant, support services lieutenant and commander of investigations. In January 2015, Teppel was promoted to deputy chief of police, a role he held until last month's appointment by Mayor Roger Claar.

RELATED: Bolingbrook Public Safety Director Tom Ross Retires

"Tom Ross did an outstanding job," Mayor Claar told Patch last week during an interview. "Tom was excellent at keeping me in the loop about everything."

Claar believes Teppel will do a great job as well.

"Ken has 27 years. He was a cadet. He has had an impeccable career and been our deputy police chief the last three years," Claar said. "There really was not a question as to who would assume the top position."

As public safety director, Teppel oversees Bolingbrook's police and fire departments. Police has 113 sworn officers and fire has 86 personnel. Including civilian staff, Teppel oversees about 250 Bolingbrook employees. "Every morning, I have a staff meeting with the police department, so anything going on I still have my finger on the pulse," Teppel said. "My philosophy is community involvement."

He said there's an expectation that Bolingbrook officers make the effort to park their squad car at a school when kids get out or that firefighters park the truck over at the Promenade and "get out and talk with people."

Patch asked Teppel how long he planned to stay as public safety director. His predecessor, Ross, retired at age 51 after 30 years of service for Bolingbrook.

"I would love to stick around," Teppel said. "I have no ambitions to go anywhere else. My career has been started here, and I'm planning to end it here."

The retirement of Ross had a ripple effect within Bolingbrook's chain of command at the police station.

As a result of Teppel's promotion, Mike Rompa was promoted to fill Teppel's old position as deputy chief of police. Denny Hess was elevated to fill Rompa's previous role as investigations commander. Next, Richard Hilliard was promoted to commander of the patrol unit, according to Teppel.

Images supplied via Ken Teppel, main image, from left is Mike Rompa, Bolingbrook's new deputy chief of police, at right is Ken Teppel, Bolingbrook's new public safety director.