The Lake Bluff Police Department announced they are mourning the loss of one of their officers, who had over 30 years of law enforcement experience, after he died Tuesday.
The police department said Officer Jeff Jacoby, who was 55 years old, was off-duty at the time of his death.
Jacoby was hired by the village in December 2020 as a patrol officer.
He first worked as a patrol officer in Lisle where he served almost three years before working for the Des Plaines Police Department.
Jacoby worked as a patrol officer, detective, sergeant and eventually a patrol commander where he oversaw 20 officers.
Jacoby completed “countless” training programs and held a bachelor’s in law enforcement administration at Western Illinois University.
He also earned a certificate of completion from Northwestern University Center for Public Safety School for Police Staff and Command.
The Lake Bluff Police Department said that Jacoby “made an immediate impact” on the department despite him only being with Lake Bluff briefly.
Jacoby was very well-liked by all that worked or interacted with him, the department said.
“He was always quick to share his experience and extensive training with fellow officers and received letters of appreciation by the Village and others for his fine work and elevation of our Department and he always did these things with his special humor and wit,” the police department said in a statement.
“Please keep Jeff’s family, friends, and the Lake Bluff Police Department in your thoughts. We will miss you Jeff,” the department added.
An obituary for Jacoby said he died in Mercer, Wisconsin, doing what he loved most — fishing with his friends.
He is survived by his wife and two children. A visitation is scheduled for Tuesday followed by a funeral Wednesday.