Three members of the Flossmoor Police Department took oaths to serve and protect the community, including one new police officer and two who moved up the ranks.
Salvador Estrada, who started in Flossmoor as a probationary patrol officer on Aug. 8, was sworn in as an officer during the Jan. 6 village board meeting, followed by newly appointed Police Commander Keith Taylor and Deputy Chief Clint Wagner.
is sworn in by Village Clerk
Ananda Billings on Jan. 6.
Estrada joined the Flossmoor
Police Department in August.
(Photos by Stephanie Markham/
H-F Chronicle)
Estrada graduated from the police academy at the Cook County Sheriff’s Academy on Dec. 20. He earned an associate’s degree from South Suburban College and completed additional work on his bachelor’s degree from Governors State University.
Police Chief Tod Kamleiter appointed Taylor and Wagner to their respective positions in December.
Commander Taylor said the transition has been going smoothly as he has been getting acclimated to his new responsibilities.
“My main goal is to do the best that I can to make sure our patrol officers are the best in the area, well trained, (and to) continue to do my work efficiently and provide the best service to the community,” he said.
Taylor said his new role includes more administrative responsibilities, including filing paperwork and keeping track of records.
Taylor is sworn in by Village
Clerk Ananda Billings. Police
Chief Tod Kamleiter promoted
Taylor from sergeant last month.
He said it helps that members of the department are supportive of one another when roles change.
“It makes it easier for us to do what we need to do and keep the focus on our mission for the people,” Taylor said.
Taylor joined the Flossmoor Police Department in 2009 as a patrol officer after working a number of years as a Cook County Sheriff’s Department correctional officer and drill instructor. He was promoted to patrol sergeant in 2013.
Taylor holds bachelor's and master’s degrees from Calumet College of St. Joseph and has attended the School of Police Staff and Command and the Executive Management Program at Northwestern University Center for Public Safety. He also served four years of active duty as a military police officer in the U.S. Navy.
Deputy Chief Wagner said having internal succession within the department is great because an outside person would need time to get familiar with the community.
Wagner is sworn in by Village
Clerk Ananda Billings on Jan. 6.
Police Chief Tod Kamleiter
promoted Wagner from
administrative sergeant last
month.
“I’ve been here for 18 years,” he said. “I know everybody; it should be, hopefully, an easy transition.”
Wagner said his new role as deputy chief will be similar to his previous role as administrative sergeant. The deputy chief is responsible for the overall supervision of daily operations and the direct supervision of investigations and the records division.
“We are progressing right ahead and everything is on track for what we need to do,” he said.
Wagner joined the Flossmoor Police Department in 2001 and has risen through the ranks after being hired first as a patrol officer, then assuming the roles of shift leader, sergeant and administrative sergeant.
Wagner holds bachelor's and master’s degrees from Calumet College of St. Joseph and has also attended the School of Police Staff and Command and the Executive Management Program at Northwestern University Center for Public Safety.
Wagner previously worked at the Chicago Heights and Sauk Village Police Departments.
