A Chicago PD Deputy Chief to be Broadview’s New Top Cop

(Broadview, IL) – The Chicago Police Department’s Bureau of Counter Terrorism’s Criminal Network Group deputy chief is slated to become the next police chief in suburban Broadview.

Thomas Mills, a 31-year veteran of the Chicago Police Department who currently oversees more than 600 officers, is expected to take over the 37-officer Village of Broadview Police Department on November 1.

Mills, who would be Broadview’s first African-American-Japanese police chief, says “honesty” is the top duty of anyone leading a police department.

“A city and community wants a chief who displays honesty at all times,” said Mills, a life-long Chicago resident. “Integrity and humility are the two most common components of the overall success of a police chief.”

Mills, who replaces a 30-year veteran of the Broadview Police Department, Kevin Eugling, who retired in February, is pledging to have an “open conversation” with village residents and business leaders in the western Cook County community of 7,900 residents just 15-minutes from Chicago’s loop.

“It would be my job to learn the Village of Broadview while striving to gain the trust from all residents and businesses owners through an open conversation,” said Mills. “The only way to accomplish this is to be ‘boots on the ground’ both day and night, visiting all communities.”

In his current CPD role, Mills manages more than 600 undercover agents targeting violent criminal street gangs and drug trafficking organizations and works with suburban police departments, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Marshal’s Service, and the Illinois State Police.

Broadview Mayor Katrina Thompson, whose nomination of Mills is before the Village Board of Trustees, has prioritized a new “police culture” for the new chief, and her nominee pledges a new “community based style.”

“In policing, culture drives behavior, and if the culture of the organization is not in line with the core values of the profession and the highest expectations of the community, then they are meaningless,” said Mills. “I would work to change the old culture into a new ‘community based’ style of culture that provides a voice to elected government officials, police officers, and members of the community.”

Thompson expects that Mills’ appointment to be confirmed at the October 18th regular Board of Trustees meeting.

davidormsby@davidormsby.com