Lemont police chief retiring after 36 years

LEMONT – Kevin Shaughnessy has spent most of his life responding to emergencies.

“I’ve been doing this for 36 years, and I’m always going to have the urge to chase the bad guy,” he said last week. “I hope my friends who’ve already retired from law enforcement can tell me how they’ve learned to adjust.”

Shaughnessy will retire Wednesday after serving as Lemont’s police chief for 11 years.

Before coming to Lemont, the Tinley Park resident spent 25 years with the state police. He was the first commander of the South Suburban Major Crimes Task Force and went on to oversee District 5, which includes Will and Grundy counties from 1999 to 2003.

A month after Shaughnessy came to the district, he stopped to help a stranded motorist on his way to a meeting in Chicago. He ended up checking the license plate and nabbing an escaped felon from Michigan, according to Herald-News records.

Shaughnessy said last week he thinks making parents more aware of the dangers of heroin is a significant part of his legacy in Lemont.

“It’s still out there, but people know about it. People talk about it,” said Shaughnessy, who made a point to personally interview younger users when they were arrested. He’d like to see prison sentences for selling heroin increase substantially.

“He’s a genuine guy who put his passion for law enforcement on his sleeve,” said Elwood Police Chief Fred Hayes, president of the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police. Hayes praised Shaughnessy’s willingness to reach out to other departments and “go out himself and do the job better than anyone I’ve known.”

State police veteran Marc Maton has been selected to replace Shaughnessy as chief.

“They’re difficult shoes to fill. He set a very high standard of professionalism for the department,” Maton said.

Shaughnessy will start a new job after he leaves Lemont Police Department. He will shortly begin coordinating security for a video gaming machine operator.

“I’ll be dealing with local businesses and law enforcement,” he noted.

Shaughnessy said the advice he’s given to younger officers is to realize their career gives them the chance to make a difference in many people’s lives.

“You may arrest somebody, or let them off with a warning or just give somebody directions and never realize the result that can have,” Shaughnessy said. “I’ve had a good run in Lemont and have the opportunity to leave on my own terms. I’m pretty proud of that.”