The Round Lake Beach police chief has announced he will be retiring this week following 28 years of service with the department, with the mayor saying the chief will be “greatly missed.”
Round Lake Beach Police Chief Wayne Wilde announced Wednesday he will be retiring on Thursday.
Wilde, who has been with the Round Lake Beach Police Department for 28 years, said it has been his “greatest honor to serve this outstanding community.”
“I would like to thank the men and women of the Round Lake Beach Police Department for their hard work and dedication, and to the RL Fire Protection District and CenCom E911 telecommunicators, who together as a team, keep the citizens we serve safe,” Wilde said.
Wilde was hired in 1997 as a patrol officer before being promoted to sergeant in October 2007.
He was promoted to commander in October 2014 and then named deputy chief in December 2016.
Wilde was named chief of police after former chief Gil Rivera retired from the position in July 2022.
“We are deeply grateful to Wayne for his many years of dedicated service to the Village of Round Lake Beach,” Round Lake Beach Mayor Scott Nickles said.
“He’s been an outstanding officer, commander, and chief. His expertise, dedication, leadership, and incredible personality will be greatly missed at Village Hall. We wish him all the best in whatever path he chooses next,” Nickles said.
Over the years, Wilde was tapped to serve as the field training officer, warrant service team, baton and O.C. spray instructor, firearms instructor, bicycle officer, emergency vehicle operations instructor, gang officer, juvenile officer and as the law enforcement liaison with the Lake County Health Department “A Way Out” program.
A new police chief has not been announced yet by the village.