Oak Park Police Chief to Retire

Oak Park, IL — Police Chief Rick C. Tanksley, who has served for 33 years on the force, has announced he will retire as of Sept. 1.

Tanksley joined the Oak Park Police Department in 1984 as a patrol officer, according to the village of Oak Park.

He rose to sergeant and commander before taking on the role of deputy chief in 1993. In 2001, he became Oak Park's 11th police chief, following the retirement of Joseph Mendrick, who spent 35 years with the department.

Tanksley's successor may be named as soon as next week, Village Manager Cara Pavlicek said.

“Chief Tanksley has given the community many, many years of loyal service and for that we are grateful,” Pavlicek in a statement. “Given Rick’s tenure with the Oak Park Police Department, I have always known his retirement was possible at any time. The position of Chief of Police is demanding and Rick’s background in social work allowed him to relate to the public in a meaningful way. He has continued to advocate for Oak Park’s community oriented policing strategies and that impact has been profound here. He will be missed.”

Tanksley said he will miss the job, his colleagues and the people of Oak Park.

“Choosing to retire from the Oak Park Police Department was one of the toughest decisions of my career," he said in a statement. "Working for the Village is so much more than a job. Oak Park is my hometown and the character of the community is part of who I am. But there comes a time in everyone’s life when change is necessary not only for my own personal and professional growth, but for the organization as well. That time for me is now."

Photo courtesy of the village of Oak Park.