Mokena Extends Interim Police Chief Contract 6 Months

Editor's Note: This article has been updated to reflect that Tim McCarthy served as interim chief, not John Keating, after the resignation of Steve Vaccaro.

MOKENA, IL — The Village of Mokena Board of Trustees at its Monday meeting unanimously approved a 6-month contract extension for Interim Police Chief Brian Benton. Benton's contract was set to expire in February, but the extension will keep him on until August.

Benton had previously served as Joliet's Chief of Police from 2013 until his retirement in 2018.

The appointment comes as the Village continues to search for stability in the Police Department following the resignation in 2020 of former-Chief of Police Steve Vaccaro.

Benton was appointed to the position in August 2021 following the announcement of then-Chief John Keating's intention to resign.

Keating briefly served as chief from May 2021 to August 2021. Prior to that, Tim McCarthy served as the interim chief following the resignation of Steve Vaccaro in December 2020, who left the Mokena Police Department after a vote of no confidence by the police department in October 2020.

Patch obtained a copy of that letter of no confidence and published it in August 2021.

Related:

• Village To Hire Independent Counsel To Investigate 'Lack Of Confidence' In Police Chief
• Mokena Police Chief Announces Retirement
• Mokena Police Chief Resigns: Village
• Mokena Names Former Joliet Police Chief As Interim Chief
• Letter Of No Confidence In Ex-Mokena Chief Outlines Allegations

There is currently no active search ongoing for a full-time police chief replacement because of Benton's contract extension, according to Village Administrator John Tomasoski.

In another police-related board item, trustees also voted unanimously Monday to approve the promotion of Stephen Chlebek to the rank of sergeant. Chlebek has been with the Mokena Police Department since 2003, according to Village documents. He has received numerous awards during his time with Mokena PD, including two life-saving awards, one letter of meritorious duty, 24 letters of distinguished duty and 11 letters of exceptional duty, according to Village documents.

Chlebek fills the vacant sergeant position left by Michael Keller, who retired earlier this month.