Meet the Chief: Andrew Kjellgren on 20 Years With Marengo Police

Andrew Kjellgren has spent 20 years with the Marengo Police Department, and this summer became its chief. The City Council appointed Kjellgren on June 8, after a stretch as acting chief that began when Chief Nathan Hayes left in January for the chief's job in Cary. Kjellgren took the oath of office at the council's July 13 meeting.

We asked the new chief a few questions so residents could get to know the person in charge. Kjellgren answered in writing in early August.

After 20 years with the department, what made you want to step into the chief role?

I have always looked toward the next challenge or step in my career. I have enjoyed being a part of this organization and the role we play in the Marengo community. I saw this as an opportunity to have a direct role in guiding that involvement and service to Marengo. The support we receive from the community only made it that much easier of a decision.

Who or what shaped how you approach policing?

I think it was a multitude of things that have shaped my approach over the years. Much of this career, specifically municipal policing, is about people. Past co-workers and supervisors, even prior to my law enforcement career, provided excellent examples of how people should be treated regardless of the situation or position. Seeing that leadership exemplified in those day-to-day operations of private business, non-policing public settings, as well as the policing setting, inspired how I approach it.

What's changed most about policing in Marengo over your two decades here?

I think the biggest ones would be the constantly changing law and technology. The law changes come in two forms. One is our lawmakers passing new laws that we must adjust and adhere to. The second is a constant flow of case law coming down from the courts that change the way we do things. Specifically, the SAFE-T Act passed a few years back brought sweeping change to the way we conducted day-to-day business concerning policing. Technology is changing and continues to evolve. We have to strive to keep up with it. More and more happens online, whether a scam or someone using a platform to harass others.

The city has a job posting up for a police officer. Is the department hiring to expand, or backfilling?

The department is currently seeking to backfill an available position and is working to establish an eligibility list for potential future positions. Anyone with interest is encouraged to apply and can reach out to me if they have any questions on the process or the position.

Since the chief answered, entry-level applications for this round have closed. Kjellgren told Marengo Weekly in September that the entry-level test is set for Saturday, September 19, and that the department has also been accepting applications from certified officers at other departments as they come in.

The city is extending utilities out to the I-90 and Route 23 interchange to open that area up for development. As that corridor grows, how does the department think about serving a larger or busier area, and what does planning for that look like on your end?

The growth that the city could realize sooner rather than later is something that remains at the forefront of my mind. Ensuring that we have the needed equipment and resources to respond further than this department historically has had to, is important. Geographically, our officers have gotten used to the extra area, but for the time being, it does not come with much of an additional call volume due to the undeveloped acreage down there. Making sure that we have an eligibility list in place to fill future vacancies, making sure we maintain good relationships and communication with our stakeholders in Marengo, as well as making sure the proper agreements for mutual aid are in place, are important to ensuring we can meet the demands of the growth that is coming our way.

Is there anything you'd like the community to know or help with?

The police department is here for the community. Please reach out to us if we can be of service. We constantly see people take to social media to voice complaints and find that quite often, the issue never actually makes it to us. While we make every attempt to proactively address problems, many times we have no way of knowing that something is going on if it's not reported. I also think in this day and age, it is important to remember that you can't believe everything posted online. There are usually two sides to a story and a lot more factual information that does not make it onto social media.

The Marengo Police Department is at 142 E. Prairie St. The non-emergency number is 815-568-7231, and the department takes email at police@cityofmarengo.com. For an emergency, call 911.