Former Deputy Chief with 32 years of experience to lead the Woodridge Police Department
WOODRIDGE, Ill. (MAY 9, 2024) – The Village of Woodridge has named Tom Stefanson its new Chief of Police after former Woodridge Chief of Police Brian Cunningham retired on January 24, 2024. Chief Stefanson has been with the Woodridge Police Department since 1997 and has held several positions including Patrol Sergeant and Detective Sergeant before he became Deputy Chief of Police in 2014. Chief Stefanson also serves as the Deputy Coordinator of Investigative Operations for the Metropolitan Emergency Response and Investigative Team (MERIT). This county-wide task force is charged with leading investigations into serious crimes, critical incidents, and other law enforcement endeavors. Before serving at the Woodridge Police Department, Chief Stefanson served in investigations with the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office for five years.
The search for the next Woodridge Chief of Police involved a nationwide search and an extensive interview process that included an interview with Village of Woodridge Mayor, Gina Cunningham and the Village Board. After multiple rounds of interviews, Chief Stefanson was
unanimously chosen to lead the Woodridge Police Department with overwhelming support from colleagues and staff.
“On behalf of the Village Board and myself, we are extremely excited to announce Tom as our next Chief of Police,” said Mayor Gina Cunningham. “He has been a dedicated leader in the Village for 27 years and is extremely deserving of this promotion. Congratulations to Tom, his family, our Police Department, and our community.”
Some of Chief Stefanson’s most notable accomplishments to date with the Woodridge Police Department include:
- Developed the Village of Woodridge Community Roll-Call Program
- Provided aid through response efforts for the 2021 Father’s Day Tornado
- Assisted with Woodridge’s Frontline Toolkit allowing residents to submit overnight parking requests, vacation watch, and other services with ease
- Supported the implementation of the Body-Worn Camera Program (BWC) that has increased department transparency, improved evidence collection, and assisted in the documentation body-cam program
“I always wanted to work at the Woodridge Police Department. I was familiar with the officers, the Village, and I knew the Woodridge Police Department was a professional organization that did great work all the way back 27 years ago when I first applied,” said Tom Stefanson. “The
Woodridge Police Department has been a great place to build a career. It really is a dream come true to be able to finish my career here. I am very fortunate.”
“I am also honored to take on the role of Chief of Police and am committed to building upon the positive path that our department is on. Previous Chief Brian Cunningham’s contributions have left us with strong momentum that we plan to carry forward. Our department is dedicated to serving and protecting the community, and we look forward to exploring new initiatives that promote engagement and safety. We are also excited to continue to grow our team with more dedicated officers.”
“For me, it is always a proud moment when you can promote from within. Tom’s track speaks for itself, and we are all looking forward to supporting him in his new role as Chief,” stated Al Stonitsch, Village Administrator. “Under Tom’s leadership, I am confident that we will continue to build upon the rich tradition of law enforcement excellence at the Woodridge Police
Department.”
Chief Stefanson will formally be appointed as the new Woodridge Chief of Police on Thursday, May 16, 2024, at the regularly scheduled Village Board Meeting; this meeting takes place at 7:00 pm in the Werch Board Room inside Woodridge Village Hall at 5 Plaza Drive. Community members can meet Chief Stefanson and congratulate him at the Village’s upcoming Police and Public Works Campus Community Dedication on Saturday, May 18 from 9:00 am until noon at 7215 Janes Avenue in Woodridge.
About the Village of Woodridge
The Village of Woodridge is dedicated to achieving a high quality of life by providing superior customer service, responsible emergency services, and diverse programs and amenities in a fiscally responsible manner. Incorporated in 1959, with less than 500 residents, the Village of Woodridge is home to over 34 thousand people today and is located approximately 25 miles west of downtown Chicago. The Village includes thousands of acres of forest preserve land, six public elementary schools, one junior high school, and outstanding library and park facilities. To
learn more about the Village of Woodridge, visit woodridgeil.gov.
About the Woodridge Police Department
The Woodridge Police Department is a professional, progressive law enforcement agency consisting of 51 sworn officers including one Police Chief, two Deputy Chiefs, seven Sergeants, and 41 patrol officers. The Woodridge Police Department provides a full array of law enforcement services including a Tactical Unit, Traffic Unit, Crime Prevention, GRIT, Records, and Community Service Officers. The department is proactive and works to identify and resolve issues to improve the quality of life within the Woodridge community. To learn more about the Woodridge Police Department, visit woodridgeil.gov/my_government/police_department.