Brian Baker Retires After Nearly 30 Years At Skokie PD, 3 As Its Chief

SKOKIE, IL — The chief of Skokie police plans to step down later this month after just over three years in the role and nearly three decades with the department, village staff announced.

Brian Baker started as a patrol officer in Skokie in 1994 and later received promotions to the ranks of sergeant, commander and deputy chief before he was appointed in November 2020 to succeed former Chief Anthony Scarpelli, who retired after nine years in charge of the department.

“Chief Baker has been an outstanding leader of the Skokie Police Department, collaborating closely with members of the community and department to navigate historic challenges, build trust, and enhance public safety for all who live, work and visit here,” Village Manager John Lockerby said in a statement announcing Baker's retirement.

Baker's last day on the job will be Dec. 22, according to the Tuesday announcement. Village staff have yet to disclose when Baker gave his notice and who will replace him next week on an interim basis.

During his time with the department, Baker has been instrumental in implementing several key initiatives, according to village staff.

The outgoing chief developed the "Be the Difference" program, aimed at fostering a service-oriented culture within the department and improving public communication. It also involved a review and update of the Skokie Police Department's mission and values statement.

Under Baker's leadership, the department launched a co-responder team, in partnership with Skokie's Health and Human Services Department.

The innovative approach pairs a crisis intervention-trained police officer with a licensed social worker to team up to respond to people in crisis to make sure they get the right services and support.

Baker oversaw a community review of the department's Use of Force Policy, coordinating with the village's Public Safety Commission and community organizations.

He also established a system for tracking bias-based incidents and hate crimes, prioritizing departmental and community responses to these issues, according to staff.

Throughout his career, Baker has been actively involved in various law enforcement organizations, serving as vice president of the Northern Illinois Police Alarm System — a suburban SWAT team — and the North Regional Major Crimes Task Force — detectives and investigators from suburban jurisdictions primarily focused on homicides.

Baker was also a member of the executive board of the Chicago FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force and the Anti-Defamation League's Law Enforcement Advisory Committee.

“On behalf of the Village of Skokie," Lockerby said, "I would like to thank Chief Baker for his nearly three decades of distinguished police service and wish him the very best in the future.”