New Lenox Police Chief Retires After 43 Years In Law Enforcement

NEW LENOX, IL — After 43 years in law enforcement, including 12 years as chief of the New Lenox Police Department, Chief Bob Sterba retired April 25. Although retiring in the middle of a pandemic wasn't what Sterba would have chosen, he says he's still happy.

"We're healthy, we're happy," Sterba said. He and his wife were planning on taking a cruise to celebrate his retirement, but those plans have been put on hold.

The law enforcement veteran spent the majority of his career with the Palos Heights Police Department, where he started on April 25, 1977.

"I made life-long friends there, and I learned a lot," Sterba said.

Sterba said he wanted to be a police officer ever since he was a teenager.

"It was something I had an interest in high school," Sterba said. "I took criminal justice classes at Moraine [Valley Community College] and moved in that direction."

Mayor Tim Baldermann called him in 2008, asking if he wanted to be chief of police for New Lenox; by that time, he was a deputy chief at Palos Heights.

Sterba decided to make the switch over to New Lenox and said he "never regretted that decision once."

"It is a wonderful town, and it is run exceptionally well," Sterba said of New Lenox.

"They've got so many police officers that have their best interests at heart," Sterba said. His successor, April DiSandro, is a lifelong New Lenox resident and has served as a deputy chief at the department.

"I often thought of her as the soul of our police department," Sterba said. DiSandro was sworn in as the new police chief April 24.

DiSandro called Sterba a "great mentor" and a "wonderful friend."

"He was a great leader and respected by the people that worked for him. Probably one of the smartest people I know and also had a fantastic sense of humor," DiSandro told Patch. "He taught me so many things, and that laughing and enjoying work was important. We did that a lot. He will be greatly missed."

Sterba said his favorite part of his police work was "bringing peace and solving problems."

He also enjoyed the services the department provided the community including the annual Cops Care coat drive, food drives and the Shop with a Cop around Christmas time.

"My favorite is our Shop With a Cop," Sterba told Patch. "We did all we could to make these kids feel special."

"Any time you could put a smile on a kid's face, that's time well spent."

Sterba ended his 43 years of service with a final call to his daughter, Kristin, who is a 911 telecommunicator at the Laraway Communication Center.

"What an honor," Sterba said, adding how proud he was of his daughter.

"I love you, Daddy, always stay humble and kind," his daughter radioed back on his final call.