Lake County Gazette

The Village of Buffalo Grove announced on June 13 the promotion of Police Commander Tara Anderson to deputy chief of police. The 25-year veteran of the Buffalo Grove Police Department is the first woman in the village's history to hold this leadership position.

"Tara has consistently demonstrated exceptional leadership, a strong commitment to professional development, and a deep dedication to public service," said Police Chief Brian Budds, according to a news release. "Her promotion is a reflection of her accomplishments, character, and the confidence we have in her ability to help guide the department forward. This is a historic and well-deserved milestone for both Tara and the Village."

According to the news release, Anderson was officially sworn into her new role during the Village board meeting on Monday. Anderson began her career with the police department in 2000 as a desk officer and was sworn in as a police officer in 2001. She rose through the ranks, promoted to sergeant in 2014, lieutenant in 2017, and commander in 2024. She served in leadership roles that included youth investigator, Administrative Services sergeant, Staff Support lieutenant, and patrol commander.

The release further states that Anderson holds a master's degree from DePaul University and is a graduate of the FBI-Law Enforcement Executive Development Association (FBI-LEEDA) Command Leadership Institute and Northwestern University's School of Police Staff and Command. She is a recipient of the Northwestern University Public Safety Executive Leadership Award and the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police's Rising Shields of Law Enforcement Award. Budds also mentioned that she serves as vice co-chair and a founding member of the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police (ILACP) Women's Leadership.

Additionally, her certifications include completion of the Midwest Leadership Institute, Enhanced Incident Management/Unified Command at Texas A&M University, and she holds an ILAP Eligible Police Chief designation. She has received numerous awards and unit citations.