The Village of Oak Park | 123 Madison St.  Oak Park, IL 60302 | village@oak-park.us

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Tanksley says farewell

In announcing his decision to retire after more than 32 years on the force, former Police Chief Rick C. Tanksley said, “Choosing to retire from the Oak Park Police Department was one of the toughest decisions of my career. 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. I will miss the job. I will miss my colleagues, both in the Police Department and the Village. Most of all, I will miss the people of Oak Park with whom I have had so many rewarding interactions. I know I will never be able to recreate such a unique experience, but I am content to leave that opportunity to those who follow me in pursuing a career with the Oak Park Police Department.”

As for what he will do after retiring, Tanksley said he still is weighing his options. “I hope to have an opportunity to take what I have learned during a long and rewarding career in Oak Park and share it with other law enforcement agencies that may be struggling with many of the same challenges that shaped our community’s reputation for tolerance and acceptance and the police department’s reputation of treating people with dignity and respect,” he said. “The factors that made Oak Park different in many ways did not happen by accident. Perhaps, I can find a way for others to benefit from the Oak Park perspective.”