Officer's Enthusiasm is Contagious

As a police officer for Hinsdale, he is not only a terrific officer; he is honestly one of the nicest people you’ll ever meet. You can’t help but smile when you are talking to Officer Mike Coughlin. His energy and enthusiasm are infectious and he really goes above and beyond in all that he does.

Mike began his 28th year as an officer for Hinsdale Police Department in January 2016. He is a “jack of all trades” when it comes to his role at the department. Whether it’s teaching DARE, working with the Township’s peer jury program, teaching a Mental Health First Aid or Alive at 25 class, his responsibilities are varied and vast. No matter what he’s doing, he represents the uniform well.

When I asked him what lead him to be a police officer, he said it was not a direct path. “When I was growing up, we lived about 3 or 4 blocks from a fire station. We would regularly walk to the fire station so when I was a kid, I wanted to be a fireman. Years later, my younger brother went away to college. He wanted to be a cop and he told me about the classes he took. When I went to college, I took a criminal justice class and really liked it. I decided to check into taking a police test. The first test I took, I ranked number 4. I decided to put a little more effort into it and take the test at a few other departments. When my brother came home from college, he took some tests with me. Now he’s an officer at Elmhurst and I’m here at Hinsdale.”

When we talked about what he really enjoys about his job, what makes him get up day after day, his mind bounced among a number of thoughts. “There was a young man that I worked with who cam back and thanked me for making a difference in his life. Another young man eventually joined the military and is now serving as an officer in Chicago. I interact with 1000 students each year while teaching D.A.R.E. In the end, being with the kids and knowing that I am making a difference, makes it all worth it.”

We had an interesting discussion about the best piece of advice he has ever received. The advice is so relevant that it is something that he passes on to other officers: “The job is not personal. You need to treat the people you deal with the way you want to be treated.” As we talked about the implications this has for officers, Mike said, “Every person I’ve given a ticket to when I was on patrol, thanked me. Why? Because I treated them with respect.” This attitude is one that any officer should abundantly emulate.

When he’s not serving the community, he is an avid sports enthusiast, particularly the Hawks and Cubs. He loves hanging out with his kids whether it’s camping, grilling or going to the movies with his son who is a huge movie buff. Just being with them is what matters.

Mike, it is an honor to work with you. Your energy, dedication and work ethic are admirable. The Township is grateful that you are a part of our community and thankful for your service.