Lake County Gazette

The Village of Lindenhurst has announced the selection of Melinda M. Linas as the new Chief of Police for the Lindenhurst Police Department. Linas brings over 26 years of leadership and service in law enforcement, most recently serving as Commander of the 14th district for the City of Chicago.

Linas began her career in public service in 1997 with the Wisconsin Army National Guard, where she rose to the rank of second lieutenant. She later served as a second lieutenant in the Illinois Army Reserve as commanding officer of regional Service Selection Boards. Her law enforcement career began in 1999 when she joined the Chicago Police Department (CPD) as a police officer. During her tenure with CPD, she advanced through the ranks, serving as sergeant, lieutenant, and commander. Her experience spans multiple areas, including operations, undercover narcotics, vice-licensing, accreditation, community safety, and constitutional policing and reform.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology and Sociology from Marquette University and a Juris Doctor from John Marshall Law School in Chicago. Linas is a member of the Illinois Bar Association, a graduate of the Police Executive Research Forum’s Senior Management Institute for Police, and certified by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board.

Throughout her career, Linas has demonstrated commitment to professionalism, integrity, and community engagement. She has led teams that provide high- quality service while treating all individuals with dignity and respect. A strong advocate for 21st Century Community Policing , she values collaboration with stakeholders to build meaningful relationships . Additionally , Linas is a recognized leader and vocal supporter of mental and physical wellness for police officers , frequently speaking on these topics at regional and national law enforcement conferences as well as in media appearances .

Linas assumes leadership as Lindenhurst’s first female Chief of Police and will uphold high standards of public safety while continuing to make the Lindenhurst Police Department a model for professionalism . She will also be responsible for assessing current facilities and infrastructure as the Village explores possibilities for a new municipal complex . In this role , she will lead a team comprising fifteen full -time sworn officers including one commander and four sergeants along with three part -time sworn officers besides one full - time records assistant .

Linas will be officially sworn in at the Village Board Meeting on March24.To read more about this announcement please visit Village 's communications page..