'Interim' No More; Konopek Sworn in as Police Chief

After an eight-month tryout, John Konopek can remove "interim" from in front of his chief title.

The 17-year department veteran was officially sworn in Monday night as the village's top law enforcement officer. Mayor Michael Collins did the honors at the Plainfield Village Board meeting, with Konopek's wife standing at her husband's side.

Konopek was on a temporary basis in mid-February. He succeeded William Doster, who retired after just two years due to an unexpected, undisclosed health ailment.

"We have had a history of great police chiefs; we've had one for 25 years," said Collins, himself a retired police officer. "We welcome Mr. Konopek (to the job)."

The police chief is appointed by the mayor, and he serves at the mayor's pleasure. However, that also means that the chief's appointment is concurrent with the mayor's term, which expires in 2012.

Collins has not said whether he will seek another four-year term; if a new mayor is elected, he or she would have the power to keep or replace Konopek.

Konopek is a Joliet native who joined the department as a patrol officer in 1995. He was promoted to sergeant in 1999 and commander in 2000. Despite his promotion, he has continued to serve as the head of the Plainfield Emergency Management Agency.

Prior to coming to Plainfield, Konopek was a corrections officer for the Illinois Department of Corrections, working at the River Valley Juvenile Detention Center in Joliet.