Lake County Gazette

At its Jan. 23 meeting, the Highland Park city council thanked Commander Chris O'Neill for his 30 years in the Highland Park City Police Department. He was initially hired to the police force as a part-time dispatcher in December 1990, and then began as an officer in October 1991. He was promoted to sergeant in 2003 and commander in 2018. 

O'Neill was born and raised in Highland Park, graduating from the local high school before going on to earn his bachelor’s and master’s degrees. In his time on the force he has served as a dispatcher, officer, detective, patrol commander, traffic sergeant, and on numerous specialty teams like tactical teams and taser instructor program. 

O’Neill came to the podium to thank the council and community.

"Having been born and raised in the Highland Park and Hayward community, when I was a young person navigating my way through the high school years, I wanted to be in a profession that would pay back the community and be a service for the greater good," O'Neill said. "I was very fortunate to be hired as a police officer with the city of Highland Park at a very young age in 1991. And I now find myself asking 'where did the time go?' I've been blessed with a very interesting and exciting career over the years. I had the opportunity to serve in a number of various capacities too many to list, which I truly enjoyed."

He thanked each member of the force in all of the departments he had worked in and with over the past 30 years. He thanked his police chief for bringing positive energy and a work ethic to the department and bringing it into the future. He commended the law enforcement agencies in the area for their work after the Highland Park disaster and encouraged the community to continue fostering a relationship between officer and citizen to help heal the community

O’Neill also has a deep love for music, singing and playing guitar for many local bands over the years, often ones made up of his fellow officers and coworkers. He is also remembered for his part in the department’s 2018 lip sync video. He was a beloved officer throughout the community. 

He officially retired on Jan. 24 and received an official city proclamation honoring his dedication to the community. 

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