'Happy As Hell': Burr Ridge Retired Top Cop Honored

BURR RIDGE, IL – The room was packed at Monday's Village Board meeting, where the retired John Madden was honored as the village's longtime police chief.

"I've told you many times – all of you – that I'm so proud of these officers," said Madden, who joined the police department 34 years ago. "We've come a long way since 1989. To end my career on this note, I'm just happy as hell."

Madden, who was promoted to chief in 1989, spoke well of his successor Deputy Police Chief Marc Loftus.

"I couldn't be happier to leave the keys to Marc to lead the agency," Madden said. "He's ready. If he's not, I did something wrong."

He jokingly warned the Village Board to follow the unwritten rule that a new chief gets a honeymoon.

"So as you enter the budget cycle, please remember that honeymoon period. I think it's 12 months. Right, Marc?" Madden said.

"I'll take it," Loftus said.

The board adopted a resolution (below) praising Madden, who retired Saturday. The police station's training room will be named in Madden's honor.

Mayor Gary Grasso said Madden's work resulted in respect for law and order in Burr Ridge.

"It is something I get from residents that they like about Burr Ridge – they feel safe here," the mayor said. "I hear the good and the bad. And I hear no bad about how (residents) feel being in this village at night with their children."

Village trustees agreed.

Shortly after, Loftus was sworn in as the new chief. He joined the department in 1998.