Buffalo Grove Announces New Police Chief

BUFFALO GROVE, IL — Following a nationwide search that resulted in 43 candidates for the job, Buffalo Grove has chosen its next police chief. Brian Budds, who currently serves in the same position in Western Springs, will be sworn in next month as part of a ceremony at a Buffalo Grove Village Board meeting.

Budds will take over for Steven Casstevens, who will retire on Nov. 11 after nine years as police chief. Budds will begin work with Buffalo Grove on Nov. 7.

"After an extensive nationwide search, Budds stood out as an intelligent, respected and incredibly talented candidate who will continue evolving our police department as we enter the next generation of policing," Village Manager Dane Bragg said in a news release.

Prior to officially being sworn in on Nov. 7, a public reception will be held for Budds at 7 p.m. at Village Hall, 50 Raupp Blvd., followed by the 7:30 p.m. meeting.

It was announced in June that Casstevens, who has been in law enforcement for 46 years, would be retiring. Recruitment for his replacement was conducted by GovHRUSA, a nationwide public sector executive recruiter with headquarters in Northbrook, according to the news release.

RELATED: Buffalo Grove Police Chief Casstevens To Retire This Fall

Budds has served as police chief in Western Springs since 2016 and has been in law enforcement for the past 24 years. Prior to being police chief, he was deputy chief for that police department for 10 years and a police officer from 1998 to 2006.

According to the news release, Budds manages a department with a $5 million operating budget, maintained effective relationships internally and externally including serving as liaison to various Village Committees and Commissions and as an executive board member for FBI Illinois Joint Terrorism Task Force and Northern Illinois Police Alarm System.

"I am honored and humbled to serve as Buffalo Grove’s next police chief, and I’m grateful to Village Manager Bragg and the Village Board for their confidence in me," Budds said. "I look forward to leading the talented men and women in the department and building upon the established esteemed reputation as a premier law enforcement agency in the nation."

Budds holds a bachelor's degree in business management from University of Illinois at Chicago and a master's degree in public safety administration from Lewis University. He is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy and Northwestern University’s School of Police Staff and Command. Budds completed the Senior Executives in State and Local Government Program at Harvard University, is a Certified Police Chief, and holds a certificate as a technical accident reconstructionist from Northwestern University, according to the news release.

Budds is a member of the International Association of Police Chiefs, FBI – Law Enforcement Executive Development Association, FBI National Academy Associates, Police Executive Research Forum and the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police.