Acting Flossmoor Police Chief Tod Kamleiter has been selected to move up the ranks to serve as the village’s next permanent police chief. Kamleiter was Flossmoor’s deputy police chief for six years until May, when he was appointed acting police chief following former chief Mike Pulec’s retirement.
Acting Flossmoor Police Chief Tod Kamleiter has been selected to move up the ranks to serve as the village’s next permanent police chief.
Kamleiter was Flossmoor’s deputy police chief for six years until May, when he was appointed acting police chief following former chief Mike Pulec’s retirement.
The village hired the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police to assist with recruiting and interviewing candidates, resulting in Mayor Paul Braun choosing Kamleiter for the position.
Flossmoor Village Board members are set to vote on final approval of Braun’s appointment during their regular meeting at 7:30 p.m. Monday in Village Hall.
Kamleiter said in an email to the H-F Chronicle that he feels fortunate for the opportunity to have stepped in for Pulec these past five months.
“This time period allowed me to grow as a leader and has given me a full understanding of the challenges and demands that this position holds,” he said.
He said part of the challenge has been managing daily operations in addition to his new responsibilities, but fortunately, his colleagues were able to take over some administrative functions to ease the transition.
Village Manager Bridget Wachtel said the ILACP advertised the position in various publications and websites, and about 15 submitted their qualifications.
“They were all, as a pool of candidates, well qualified, well experienced,” she said. “Overall it was a very competitive process.”
Once applications were in, 10 candidates were asked to complete a detailed questionnaire about their experience and skills. Their responses were considered in narrowing the candidates down to five.
Those five were then invited to participate in an “assessment center” on Sept. 21 with exercises to evaluate their leadership, critical thinking and other qualities.
Exercises included preparing a mock press conference and problem solving an issue in the policing industry. Braun and board members were in attendance to observe the results.
Finally, the group was whittled down to three finalists who interviewed directly with Braun and board members during a closed-session meeting on Sept. 30.
Braun said Kamleiter had the advantage of knowing the Flossmoor Police Department better than any outside candidates could have based on his more than 20 years of employment there; he was hired on as a patrol officer in 1996.
“He’s very well-liked within the community, and the board and I just felt that at this point in time, Chief Kamleiter really was the best person to lead the department forward,” Braun said.
Wachtel said the services of the ILACP were “very helpful” in the search process, particularly the evaluations from trained assessors.
“In our case, we ask for active chiefs who are in the field of commanding a department, so they give their perspective on the candidates, the industry, things for us to be considerate of,” she said.
Kamleiter previously held the positions of detective and sergeant with the Flossmoor Police Department. He is an Air Force veteran, and he worked for the Indiana Department of Corrections for six years.
Kamleiter has a bachelor’s degree in police administration from Calumet College of St. Joseph and a master’s degree in public administration from Governors State University, among other police education and training.
Wachtel said that under village code, the position of deputy police chief is filled from within the ranks of the department.
“That will be the next position that we’ll look to fill,” she said.
Kamleiter also said in an email that his goal for the position is to “build the strongest community relationship” between members of the Flossmoor Police Department and the residents they serve.
“We truly are here to serve and protect the residents of the village,” he said.
