By Phil Arvia
Desplaines Valley News
Joe Ford grew up in Burbank. He graduated from St. Laurence
High School in 1978. He was a police officer in the city for 30 years.
And it was cops who inspired a young Ford, sworn in May 8 as the Chief of
Police in Countryside, to pursue a career in law enforcement.
"It was probably my earliest interactions with police," Ford said.
"It was always in a positive way, the officer stopping by in the neighborhood
when you were growing up. They'd ask how we were doing, what sports we were
playing … it made me want to be a police officer, and have everyone I work with
be that kind of police officer."
It would be ironic that these were not Burbank police who set Ford on the path
to his badge — if there were Burbank police at the time.
Prior to 1982, Burbank's law enforcement was provided by Cook County Sheriff's
Police. In fact, Ford worked in the Burbank detail of the county police
department, on the front desk, while in high school.
"The timing was perfect," he said. "When I was graduating from
college, Burbank was starting its police force. They were hiring all these
guys, they sent us to the academy … I got in on the ground floor of the Burbank
Police Department."
Then he stayed for parts of four decades, rising through the ranks as a patrol
officer, detective, detective sergeant, lieutenant and captain before finishing
his tenure in Burbank as Division Chief, overseeing operations of the patrol
and investigative division.
So why, at age 52, did he decide to leave? Again, perfect timing.
"Basically, I'm the type of person, when I start something, I want to see
it through," he said. "I felt pride in the fact that I was part of
building the department from the ground up and making it into the professional
organization it is today.
"I wasn't really looking for another job. But, after 30 years, I was
getting to the apex of my career, I couldn't really go any higher in Burbank, I
was thinking about that next new challenge.
"When I heard Countryside was looking, because of the kind of community it
is … I thought it would be a good fit. It's the first chief job I've ever
looked for."
In some ways, Ford has likely been looking for little else.
He earned a bachelor's degree in Administration of Justice
from Southern Illinois University in 1982, and a master's in Criminal Justice
from Chicago State in 1996. He is also a graduate of the Northwestern
University Traffic Institute's School of Police Staff and Command, and the FBI
National Academy Session 242 in Quantico, Va.
His wife of 23 years, Connie, has been along for most of that ride. The Fords
have two sons, A.J. (20) and Colton (16), and a daughter, Sheridan (13).
Somehow, Ford still has time to serve as
an adjunct professor at Moraine Valley Community College, where he sits
on the Criminal Justice Advisory Board.
As for his new post, even just a few weeks in, he's hoping it will take him to
retirement — still many years down the road.
"The people are great, the city's a great place to work," Ford said.
"It really is a nice community. They do so much for the citizens,
everyone's involved. It's a partnership."
Burbank was similar in that sense, though its challenges were different.
In his old job, Ford was one of 54 officers in a community of more than 29,000
people. In his new job, he'll head a force of 24 safeguarding a population of
not quite 6,000.
"We're well-staffed," Ford said. "The city fathers have made
sure we have the best training, and the best equipment."
According to city-data.com, Countryside's crime numbers included eight
assaults, 20 burglaries and 224 thefts in 2011, the most recent stats
available. It hasn't had more than 15 auto thefts in any year since 2003.
Meanwhile, Burbank, had 30 assaults, 75 burglaries and 437 thefts — though it
is worth noting all of those numbers were the lowest annual totals in each
category dating back to 1999.
While Ford credits Burbank's investment in technology — specifically,
surveillance cameras — as helping to decrease crime in Burbank, he doesn't
predict a similar path for Countryside. Rather, his aim is to further what he
says his officers already do well.
"Public service," he said. "What we do for the citizens, for the
people working and shopping in town, that is really important to me. And there
are a lot of good police officers already here.
"Of course, we're here to handle the criminal element, to take action as
needed. But, especially in a community like this, it's about being a part of
the community."
