Shorewood's 17-Year Police Chief, Bob Puleo, Dies At 72

SHOREWOOD, IL — Shorewood officials are mourning the unexpected death of former long time Police Chief Bob Puleo, who died unexpectedly at his home Friday. He was 72.

Puleo spent 17 years as the village chief of police. He was the second chief in Shorewood's history. Puleo began his professional career in the banking industry before joining the Crest Hill Police Department for five years.

Puleo later joined the Shorewood Police Department in 1986 as a full-time patrolman. He later became the police DARE officer, sergeant and lieutenant. In 1994, Puleo became police chief, and he remained the head of the police force until his retirement in 2011.

Aaron Klima, who replaced Puleo, remains Shorewood's police chief a decade later.

"He is credited with incorporating a great many innovations into the Shorewood Police Department in the late 1990s and early 2000s," Klima wrote in a message to village officials informing them of Puleo's death.

Puleo was also a past president of the Will County Association of Chiefs of Police.

"Chief Puleo was a kind and empathetic leader with a great capacity for listening and working well with others," Klima reflected. "He will be sorely missed by the numerous people who knew him and benefitted from working with him. He is survived by his wife Cynthia of 49 years, his children Robert of the Joliet Police Department, Tony of the Morris Police Department and Gina as well as his son and daughters in law, several grandchildren and many other friends and family."

According to the Fred C. Dames Funeral Home in Joliet, Puleo was a member of the Moran A. C., Joliet Elks Lodge #296 and a board member with the American Italian Cultural Society.

Puleo's visitation will be from 3 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Fred C. Dames Funeral Home, 3200 Black Road in Joliet. A Mass of Christian burial will take place at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at St. Anthony's Catholic Church, 100 N. Scott Street in downtown Joliet.

Burial will follow in Woodlawn Memorial Park in Joliet.

For more information, visit the Fred C. Dames Funeral Home website here.