Downers Grove Names New Police Chief

DOWNERS GROVE, IL — As the new year begins, Downers Grove will start out 2018 with a newly appointed police chief to replace Kurt Bluder, who recently retired from the force. The village announced that Shanon Gillette, who has 24 years of experience with the Downers Grove Police Department, will assume the role of police chief effective Jan. 6.

Chief Gillette will leave his most recent position as the village's Deputy Chief of Administrations, which he has held since 2015. Before that, Gillette held a number of positions in his two decades with the force, including Deputy Emergency Management Coordinator, Lieutenant of Investigations, Patrol Sergeant, and more, according to a press release from the village.

Village Manager David Fieldman praised Gillette's field experience, along with his extensive education, saying, "Shanon's educational achievements in law enforcement and practical experience as a police officer make him perfectly suited to lead the members of our top-ranked, professional police department."

Gillette graduated from the FBI's National Academy in 2016. Before that, he graduated from Northwestern University's School of Police Staff and Command, earned a Master of Science in Public Safety Administration from Lewis University, and a bachelor's degree in management from Benedictine University, according to the village announcement.

In a statement, the newly appointed chief said he was "humbled and excited for the opportunity to serve as Chief of Police for the Village of Downers Grove."

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