Darien Police Official Retiring

DARIEN, IL — Darien Deputy Police Chief Ed Rentka is retiring after more than three decades in law enforcement. Replacing him is Sgt. Jason Norton, another longtime member of the police department.

Officials announced Rentka's retirement at Monday's City Council meeting. His last day is next Monday.

Before starting with the police department in 1993, Rentka worked stints as an officer with the Cicero, Burlington Northern railroad and South Barrington police departments. He became deputy police chief last year.

Rentka has received many commendations during his career, according to a city statement. In one notable case, he was awarded the Darien Medal of Merit for disarming a person with a loaded rifle walking on Cass Avenue.

Police Chief Greg Thomas praised Rentka's service to the town, saying his departure would be a hit to the department.

"Our new deputy police chief, Jason Norton, has a lot of duties to assume and following a great man is difficult, but I'm sure Jason is up to the challenge," the chief told the council.

In a speech, Rentka had good words to say about the police department and city government in general. He told the elected officials, "When things are running smoothly, you're still looking for ways to improve the city, Everyone should be grateful for the job you do."

About Municipal Services Director Dan Gombac, Rentka said, "The public works department is second to none. I've told my wife on more than one occasion that I wish public works in the town where we live was as good as the one in Darien."

Rentka noted Thomas was supposed to be chief temporarily when he was hired in 2015, but stayed on. "Darien will only get better the longer he decides to stay here," he said.

Three sergeants in the department applied for the deputy chief's position. Thomas called the decision difficult, but said the department would have been in good shape no matter who he picked.

Thomas said he asked department members to rate the candidates. As a result of that process, Norton's name kept surfacing as someone who shows leadership and fairness and keeps an open mind, Thomas said.

Norton told the council there were "two other great candidates, good friends of mine."