New Wheaton Police Chief James Volpe brings varied background to role

WHEATON – Though he has served on the Wheaton police force for more than 20 years, there was a time when new Chief James Volpe was considering getting off the force.

Volpe said he nearly resigned in 1993 after passing the Illinois Bar Exam and spending 10 years on the job.

He now says he was all set to become a lawyer until a conversation with another police officer convinced him to stay.

"[Mark] Field gave me a little bit of advice and told me there would be some changes in the department soon and some leadership changes," he said. "Then I became a part of it, and it changed my career and my outlook on police work."

Field soon became the chief and served in that role until earlier this month. Volpe was sworn in to be his replacement Nov. 9 at City Hall.

Volpe said he hoped to continue in Field's footsteps to build a department Wheaton could be proud of.

He said he believed his legal background, time as an educator at the Suburban Law Enforcement Academy and Northwest Multi-Regional Training facility, experience as a member of the city's SWAT team and love of training would all be assets for the city.

However, he said he was never gunning for the top job.

"It wasn't my dream to be a police chief when I started police work," he said. "Every position I've had I've really loved, and if my career ended at one of those spots, I'd have been happy. And I'd work for Chief Field for the rest of my career. But I was always looking for that next challenge."

City Manager Don Rose, who was responsible for the hire, said regardless of Volpe's original intention, he had been tapped as a possible future chief years ago.

"He's a very trustworthy, ethical person with extensive knowledge about police work and administration," Rose said. "He's the right person at the right time."

Volpe's predecessor Field, who was on hand at the swearing-in ceremony, said his replacement was one of the most optimistic, positive people he's ever met.

Field said he believed Volpe's "outstanding interpersonal skills" would serve him very well in his new post.

"It's interesting, people in the profession are often really one-dimensional – they're only patrol or only administration or detectives," he said. "But his wide range of experience will be very beneficial to him because he's gotten a snapshot of all different areas."

Volpe, who lives in Naperville, said he looked forward to being an even bigger part of the Wheaton community.

"I've never lived in Wheaton...but when I think of the number of hours I've been there, Wheaton is my home," he said. "I just tend to go somewhere else to rest and sleep."