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Crime & Safety

Police Chief Celebrates 30 Years

Chief David R. Linder credits wife

The saying that behind every good man is a great woman is exemplified in Crystal Lake Police Chief David Linder. It is his wife of 34 years, he said, who motivated him to stay in law enforcement long enough to reach his 30th anniversary with the police department in September.

"Whatever modicum of success I had has been a direct result of her. It's been the support and understanding and all the things that go along with it," he said. "I couldn't thank her enough for everything she's done, she's a wonderful woman."

Just four years into his married life and with a baby on the way in 1980, Linder left his job as a paramedic in St. Charles to work as a patrol officer with the Crystal Lake Police Department. His reasons for applying were that the job offered a higher salary and was closer to home. And while he never thought he'd stay for 30 years, he can't think of any other job he'd want today.

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"What makes this job special and the reason I want to stay here is because I really care about the people that work here. They are dedicated, very good people. They are the ones that are out there on the road doing it every day and every night and not me. I'm at a desk now, but I don't forget."

Over the years Linder worked as a traffic services officer in the accident unit until being promoted to detective in the investigations division. This is where Linder spent the majority of his career, being promoted to detective sergeant and lieutenant of the division, then deputy chief until 2005 when he became chief of police.

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He also served as commander of the county's major crimes task force, where he had the opportunity to supervise many of the county's high profile cases, such as the murder case of 17-year old Beth Bosworth in the 1990s.

This was one case Linder worked on with now Deputy Chief Eugene Lowery, then a McHenry County Sheriff's Department detective. Lowery joined the police department in March 2010 and considers Linder not only a working partner but a friend as well.

"The Chief and I have been working partners and friends for over two decades. He was always a hard working cop who had the ability to get the job done, especially as a working detective," Lowery said. "We worked the day-to-day cases and some of the biggest cases of our respective careers. From burglaries to homicides we partnered up along the way. The City of Crystal Lake and the police department have been the benefactors of a hard working cop by the name of Dave Linder."

Linder has seen many changes over the years, including an increase in the number of officers. In 1980 there were 18 officers in the department and today there are 66. Today the department receives approximately 25,000 calls for service a year and the complexity of providing those services has increased, he said.

Technological advances over the past 30 years have made a significant impact on the department, making crime-solving more precise although many of the same investigative principles are still in use today. Technological improvements in record keeping, dispatch and computers in squad cars allow officers more time to work with the community instead of pushing pencils—something that dovetails with Linder's efforts to partner with the community rather than operate autonomously.

"We've recognized that as police departments we can't just respond to calls and take reports. We have to solve problems and you can't do that simply by utilizing your personnel to take reports–you have to get involved in the community."

Some of the ways the department is reaching out include further work with the Crystal Lake School District 155 in continued efforts to bring awareness and prevention of teen suicide, creating safe ways for grade school students who walk to and from school and creating formats like Tip411, which allows anonymous tipsters to contact police via text messaging regarding crimes.

City Manager Gary Mayerhofer has known Linder for eight years and sings his praises.

"He's a very dedicated police chief and he's done an excellent job the past 30 years making sure our residents are safe in this community. He truly cares about providing the best quality service to the residents of Crystal Lake and deeply cares about the men and women of the Crystal Lake Police Department."

Linder doesn't see the department's pace slowing down anytime soon. He'd like to see the department meet the high standards set forth by the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP)  and expects to reach ICAP's assessment phase within the next two years.

"Every function within the police department is affected by this," he said. "It is good for the community. I think it points towards a police department that is interested in actively pursuing excellence in how we provide our service."

On a personal level, Linder said his barbequing talents are worthy of a challenge with famed chef Bobby Flay, who competes with cooks on his television show, "Throwdown with Bobby Flay."

"I'm calling Bobby Flay out," he laughed. "I want to do a throwdown with him. We could do a fundraiser."

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