CREVE COEUR, Ill. – Creve Coeur’s interim police chief met the public for the first time since returning to the role.
Dale King was named interim police chief on Friday after the resignation of Justin Egan, along with the resignation of the deputy chief and another officer.
King spoke briefly at the village’s Police and Water Committee meeting on Wednesday, briefly telling people in attendance what the current state of the department is.
King says he was asked numerous times by Mayor Fred Lang to come back and take the job, noting that he was hesitant at first. King cited living out-of-state in a newly-remodeled home as one of the reasons for holding off initially.
But King took the job, saying the village told him they needed someone with experience, and a love for the village he grew up in. King served for three decades with Illinois State Police and for six years with Creve Coeur.
King says despite some of the challenges, the village is safe, and receiving a lot of help to keep it that way.
“We have the same coverage that we always do, it’s just the cops are working longer hours, we’re relying upon Marquette Heights, Tazewell County, state police, I’ve been in touch with everybody, and everybody realizes the situation we’re in,” King said.
King says one of his top objectives is to build the police force back up. He says there are currently three full-time police officers in the department, and wants to see the number built up to at least seven total.
There has been some interest in working for Creve Coeur Police, with King saying multiple people have reached out. He says that includes officers from other departments, officers who previously worked for him, and even those seeking part-time roles.
King says the department is changing up the way it hires officers. The changes come in the wake of the hiring of Caitlynn Girkin, who was charged last month with First-Degree Murder. At Girkin’s detention hearing, testimony revealed a history of drug abuse, a criminal record, lying to police on numerous occasions, and even her license being suspended while working as a police officer.
“I’ve contacted the Police Commission, and I want them to take over the background process, and most of the hiring process,” King said.
Mayor Fred Lang says a search for a full-time police chief will start “right away,” but did not give a timeline for when that would be completed.
