Lockport Chief Retires After Nearly 4 Decades In Law Enforcement

LOCKPORT, IL — Lockport Police Chief Terry Lemming officially retired Sunday after nearly four decades in law enforcement.

Lemming started his career as a police officer in Western Springs in 1982, before working with the Burbank Police Department for six years, he said. He then spent 25 years with the Illinois State Police, starting as a trooper and working his way up to a lieutenant colonel managing field operations.

"I'm proud to say I was a member of Illinois State Police," Lemming told Patch, adding that the organization does a "great job" and is well-run.

Lemming, who grew up in Chicago, said he never wanted to be a police officer when he was growing up. One of his hobbies was motorcycles, and he would often be pulled over by police when he was a teenager.

"I didn't care for the police," he said. "I didn't care for the way I was treated."

Lemming made his way to Western Illinois University, where he eventually picked a law enforcement administration major.

"I found that I had that degree, and thought, 'what am I going to do now?'," he said. He decided he might as well try to find a job as a police officer.

"I just fell into police work," Lemming said, adding that he didn't even know any police officers growing up.

"I think police are treated really unfairly," Lemming said. "40 years in police work, I've never had an excessive force complaint. There's some bad police [officers], but the majority of us are doing the right thing all the time."

After 25 years with the Illinois State Police, Lemming started as chief in Lockport. One accomplishment that he says he may be most proud of is developing Lockport Love, a nonprofit that provides temporary assistance to Lockport residents in need.

"We really did it because we thought it would benefit the community," Lemming said. "It drew the community closer to the police, and the police closer to the community."

The nonprofit holds fundraisers and collects donations throughout the year, and helps provide residents with basic needs, including utilities, medical bills or supplies, car repairs, gift cards, or Christmas gifts for children. It has helped hundreds of families in the city, Lemming said.

Lemming said he is also proud of Lockport for being recognized on multiple "safest city" lists.

"I think that comes with getting involved with the community," Lemming said. "The more you get involved with the community, the effects you find from that are things [like the safest city recognitions]."

One way Lemming has made the city safer is through public health initiatives. He said the Lockport Police Department has partnered with Will County's Rapid Response Naloxone Program, led by Dr. Kathleen Burke, who serves as the county's director of Substance Abuse Initiatives.

"We saw a terrible problem with the opioid epidemic," Lemming said, adding that he had to change his own mindset toward addiction and saw that people needed help.

When the police receive a call about an overdose victim, officers respond to the situation and ask if the person would like to participate in the program. A team of volunteers then come to offer Naxolone and long-term treatment options.

Lemming has served as chief of police in Lockport since 2013. He is succeeded by Rich Harang, a former deputy chief for the department.

Lemming said Harang is "upstanding, reasonable and fair."

"I think he will thrive here," he added.