Beloved police chief bids farewell after nearly 37 years of service
HUNTLEY — In a heartfelt presentation showcased at the May 23 Village Board meeting, both trustees and village staff got the opportunity to say their goodbyes to Huntley Police Chief Robert Porter, who has served the village since 2015.
According to Village President Tim Hoeft, Porter has been a cornerstone of the Huntley Police Department, known for his unwavering commitment to public safety and his compassionate approach to ensuring all department members received training and had access to the latest equipment and technology needed for their tasks and responsibilities. His tenure saw the village transition through significant changes, and his leadership played a pivotal role in fostering a sense of security and trust among residents.
Hoeft read the village’s proclamation for Porter, which highlighted his numerous contributions. “We’ve had some external issues that we’ve had to make decisions on internally with the village and you’ve always had a steady mind about you and the safety of our residents, our visitors, and everybody that comes through Huntley was always at the forefront of your decisions and it showed,” said Hoeft after having read the proclamation. “I would just like to say that I’m third generation here and we were 1,300 people when I was six [years old] so I’ve watched the department grow. I’ve thought I’ve watched [the] struggles we’ve had and with every chief we’ve had, it’s gotten better. You were no exception to that rule. We were in good hands when you came in and I think we’re in better hands after you being here.”
Porter’s career began in 1987 as a patrol officer in Downers Grove. His dedication and commitment to law enforcement continued as he rose through the ranks, ultimately being promoted to police chief for the Village of Downers Grove in 2000.
Throughout his career, Porter championed various initiatives aimed at improving community relations, according to Huntley Village Manager Dave Johnson.
“The time with Chief Porter has been an excellent time in my career. We transitioned right away from Lake in the Hills 9-1-1 dispatch to SEECOM (Southeast Emergency Communications), which was a significant undertaking and important for the overall safety of all of our residents,” said Johnson. “Spearheading and coordinating [a] response to community-related mental health challenges and domestic violence that culminated with hiring the department’s first full-time social workers. It’s something that Chief Porter was committed to and we were one of the first in the area to bring on our own social worker.”
Reflecting on his career, Porter expressed gratitude and pride. “I’ve been truly blessed to serve two outstanding communities as we mentioned before my time in Downers Grove and my time here in Huntley and to stand side by side with the brave and dedicated professionals, I’ve just been extremely fortunate just to be in two wonderful communities,” he said. “As I talk about the department and the board has heard me many times, if you give me a microphone or venue, I’m going to brag about us and the quality of our people…they’ve just been so supportive of me during my tenure here and the times that we’ve been through between COVID and some of the social unrest, they’ve just been awesome.”
Porter went on to thank his family for supporting the unpredictable nature of his job and was happy to share that his wife, Joan, will be seeing a lot more of him moving forward. His retirement will become effective June 7.
While his successor has not yet been announced, the Village of Huntley looks forward to a new chapter in its policing, with a sense of gratitude for the leadership that has brought it this far.
