Elmhurst Police Chief Pick Recommended

ELMHURST, IL – Elmhurst's interim police chief, Michael McLean, is poised to take the position permanently.

On Tuesday, City Manager Jim Grabowski plans to seek the City Council's approval of McLean as chief. The city announced the recommendation in a news release Thursday.

McLean became the interim police chief in April when then-Police Chief Michael Ruth took medical leave. Ruth died May 30.

McLean joined the Elmhurst Police Department in January 2000 after first working as a part-time police officer for the Naperville Police Department.

McLean holds a bachelor of science degree in law enforcement and justice administration from Western Illinois University. He also earned a graduate certificate in public safety education from the University of Virginia.

In 2021, McLean graduated from the 11-week FBI National Academy program for law enforcement executives in Quantico, Virginia.

In 2005, McLean was assigned to the investigations division as a resource officer at York High School.

He was promoted to the rank of sergeant in 2007, supervising patrol. In 2010, he was named the administrative sergeant, handling recruitment and hiring of new officers, among other things.

He was the deputy chief of administration and investigations from 2015 to 2018 and deputy chief of operations from 2019 until his appointment as interim chief.

"We are extremely fortunate to have Chief McLean’s wealth of experience in our community," Mayor Scott Levin said in the news release. "Elmhurst residents should rest assured that as Chief, he will continue to guide our public safety team in providing our community with the highest standards of services."