La Grange Getting A New Police Chief

LA GRANGE, IL — La Grange has been without a permanent police chief since Kurt Bluder retired in January, with an interim chief filling that role since the spring.

At Monday's Village Board meeting, Deputy Police Chief Robert Wardlaw is set to take the oath of office as the new chief.

The board's meeting agenda does not indicate that trustees will vote on the recommendation of Wardlaw, although the board approved Bluder's appointment in 2018. Patch left a message with village officials Friday morning to clarify how the village will handle Wardlaw's situation.

Wardlaw is a 20-year veteran of the La Grange Police Department, beginning in January 2001 after serving as a patrol officer in Louisiana, according to a village memo. Before becoming an officer, Wardlaw served in the U.S. Navy.

In the La Grange Police Department, Wardlaw has served as an investigator, a field training officer, a squad leader, a patrol sergeant and an investigations supervisor. He has been the deputy chief since February.

Wardlaw recently graduated from Northwestern University's 10-week School of Police Staff and Command.

Since April, Jason Cates has been the interim police chief for La Grange. In January, he retired as the deputy chief of the Oak Brook Police Department. According to the meeting agenda, he will be honored Monday with a resolution of appreciation.