Retired Tinley Park Police Cmdr. Phil Valois has been named interim chief until a new chief is selected, according to a news release issued Friday by the village.Valois is to be appointed at Tuesday night’s village board meeting.
“We are very pleased that Phil has agreed to step into this important role,” Mayor Ed Zabrocki said in the release.
“It was our desire to choose someone from within the department to lead this transition period, and we are certain that he will do an outstanding job.”
Valois joined the department in 1979 and retired as commander in 2009, becoming the department’s community service officer.
Valois told village officials he won’t seek the permanent job as chief.
The village hopes to soon hire an executive search firm to find a replacement for Chief Mike O’Connell, who died May 11 of complications after heart surgery.
The search is expected to take three to six months, officials have said.
Police Cmdr. Pat McCain had been the acting chief since O’Connell’s death.