Politics & Government

Shorewood Names Third Police Chief In Town's History

Acting Police Chief Aaron Klima got the nod from Shorewood Mayor Chapman and the village board Tuesday night.

Mayor Rick Chapman was so enthusiastic about swearing in new Shorewood Police Chief Aaron Klima that he nearly skipped over the village board's vote to make it official.

"You better vote on that first," village attorney Dave Silverman warned Chapman when the mayor and Klima were on the verge of starting their swearing-in ceremony before the board gave it their approval.

Klima waited behind the board's dais as they voted unanimously to make him chief, and then he and Chapman got back to the business of swearing the new chief in.

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Klima, who had been the administrative commander, becomes the third police chief in 54-year history. He replaces Robert Puleo, who retired July 31 after more than 17 years at the department's helm.

Puleo was present for Klima's appointment to his old job during Tuesday night's village board meeting.

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Chapman said Klima got a $3,000 raise along with his promotion and now makes between $90,000 and $100,000 a year.

Klima was given a one-year contract so the village board can see how he handles the job, Chapman said, but the mayor was optimistic that he would work out well as police chief.

Klima served as acting police chief upon Puleo's retirement. Chapman and the board retained the Deerfield Firm Vorhees Associates LLC to find candidates for the job but pulled the plug on that plan and went with Klima.

A village official said Shorewood did not have to pay Vorhees Associates any money for the aborted candidate search.

Vorhees Associates is still looking for a replacement for former village Administrator Kurt Carroll, who bailed on Shorewood for the apparently greener pastures of New Lenox back in April. The village board agreed to pay the firm up to $22,000 to come up with a list of suitable candidates.


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