Last day for Chief Colditz: Friday, July 26

Posted by Barrington Hills
On July 23, 2024

At the Board of Trustee’s July meeting on Monday, July 22, President Brian Cecola presented Police Chief Joseph Colditz with a Resolution of Proclamation recognizing his 25 years of dedicated service.

“It was an honor and privilege to work with you and I am honored to call you a friend. You will be missed,” said President Cecola.

Chief Colditz is retiring; his last day is Friday, July 26.

The proclamation summarized his career with Barrington Hills, highlighting his many roles in the Department:

Patrol Officer
Corporal
Sergeant
Lieutenant
Deputy Chief
Chief of Police

During his tenure, Chief Colditz participated in many supporting capacities within the department:

Field Training Officer
Juvenile Officer
Child Passenger Safety Technician
Introduced technology, streamlining many department programs

Colditz earned many accolades and awards during his career which included:

Supervisory Achievement Award
Education Award
Chief’s Award for Meritorious Service
Meritorious Conduct Award
Several Department Commendations
Numerous citizen letters of appreciation

Board members expressed their congratulations and appreciation to Chief Colditz for going above and beyond his expected responsibilities. This has been a common sentiment among those at Village Hall, in his Department, and among his peers.

“He is always willing to get involved, and never above anything,” shared Tracy Morey, VBHPD Records Supervisor when recounting an IT project that necessitated running wire which Chief Colditz volunteered to do just because he could.

Village Administrator, Anna Paul, has worked with Colditz on various projects over the years. “I will particularly miss Joe in November when I’m struggling to hang the holiday lights on the Village entrance sign,” chuckled Paul.

Former BHPD Police Chief Rich Semelsberger whom Colditz reported to back in the day had this to say: “Joe has been an extremely dedicated and hardworking employee for BHPD and throughout his career,” and wished Chief Colditz “a well-deserved retirement.”

Semelsberger was among many who stopped in at Village Hall for a Cup O’ Joe, a coffee reception hosted by the Village on July 18th in honor of Chief Colditz’s retirement.

Throughout the afternoon, individuals came to wish Colditz congratulations: from former Village trustees and police chiefs to first responders from various police and fire departments to those he served–the residents of Barrington Hills–each expressing the same sentiment: “Congratulations, Good Luck and You will be missed.”