La Grange Set To Hire Interim Police Chief

LA GRANGE, IL – La Grange is poised to hire an interim police as it searches for a person to fill the position permanently.

On Monday, the Village Board is set to vote on whether to hire Jason Cates as interim chief. He retired in January as the deputy chief of the Oak Brook Police Department. Cates has 28 years of experience in law enforcement.

Under a proposed contract, Cates would make $3,000 a week, but receive no benefits. He would be considered an independent contractor, not an employee.

The contract would last from Tuesday to Dec. 31 or an earlier or later date as the board determines.

The police chief’s position became vacant in January after Kurt Bluder retired. He was with the department for three years and one day. Before taking the La Grange job, he was chief with the Downers Grove Police Department, where he served 29 years.

Bluder was brought on as a consultant with the police department a few weeks after his retirement.