So Long, Chief Puleo

In his 17 years as the chief of the Shorewood Police Department, Robert Puleo went to a lot of village board meetings. Tuesday night's was his last.

"I was hoping this would never come, Bob, but you're doing it to us," Shorewood Trustee Dan Anderson said after reading a proclamation honoring Puleo, who ended a 25-year career with the police department on July 31.

"Thanks so much," said Puleo, who was joined at the podium by his wife, Cindy.

"It goes by so fast," said the chief. "You wonder where it went."

About a dozen of Puleo's officers, including acting Police Chief Aaron Klima, looked on from the audience during Tuesday night's meeting.

"You've always stepped up," said Anderson, who stepped in for an ailing Mayor Rick Chapman to lead the board meeting. Chapman broke his ankle Sunday and will have to undergo surgery.

"You always had the best interest of Shorewood and the policeman who worked under you," Anderson said.

Trust Dan Gron commended Puleo for his "profound sense of dedication."

Prior to becoming police chief in 1994, Puleo was the department's training officer, public information officer, crime prevention officer and its DARE officer.

During his tenure as chief he established the community oriented policing program, the bike patrol, the citizens' police academy, a police liaison to the village's citizens' advisory committee, a police chaplain program, neighborhood watch, the Seniors and Law Enforcement Together program, and a special needs registry, according to the proclamation.

As for Puleo's post-retirement plans, the former chief said, "I've got eight grandkids who call me pop-pop. They're looking forward to this as much as I am."