Crystal Lake Names New Police Chief; Linder to Retire

After an extensive national recruitment search, the city of Crystal Lake has selected the acting deputy police chief from west suburban Downers Grove as its new police chief.

James R. Black will assume the duties of the city's top cop on Jan. 7, 2013, Crystal Lake City Manager Gary Mayerhofer said in a press release issued Friday.

Acting Crystal Lake Police Chief David Linder in June announced plans to retire after 32 years on the force.

Linder began his career with the Crystal Lake Police Department in 1980 as a police officer and eventual worked his way through the ranks until his appointment as chief on Sept. 6, 2005, Mayerhofer said.

“Chief Linder has been a dedicated professional and will be missed,” Mayerhofer said.

“I believe that the police department is in a much better organizational position since he became chief. I am confident that Chief Black will continue to make certain that the police department provides the highest level of professional service to the community, ensuring that Crystal Lake continues to be a great place to live.”

Black has a strong law enforcement management background and a dedication to professional staff development and training. For the past 25 years, he served the Downers Grove Police Department in the capacity of police officer, patrol sergeant, detective sergeant, operations lieutenant and deputy police chief, the release stated.

Black graduated from the FBI National Academy and Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command. He has a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and a master’s degree in criminal and social justice from Lewis University, Mayerhofer said.

As deputy chief for Downers Grove, Black collaborated with law enforcement agencies in DuPage County, having recently coordinated the multi-jurisdictional Felony Investigations Assistance Team (F.I.A.T), comprised of a major crimes unit, S.W.A.T. team, a computer forensics unit, a canine unit and an accident reconstruction unit, according to the release.

Black’s application was one of 77 submissions received from throughout the country, Mayerhofer said.