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Wauconda appoints John Combs as police chief; two officers promoted and sworn in
Summary
The Wauconda Village Board approved John Combs as chief of police on June 2 and swore him in alongside Kristen Koehler as deputy chief and Nicholas Blaire as sergeant; trustees voted to approve the appointments before the board proceeded with other business.
The Wauconda Village Board on June 2 approved the appointment of John Combs as chief of police and swore in Combs and two internal promotions during the meeting’s appointments and swearing-in segment.
Combs, who the board appointed to lead the Wauconda Police Department, was introduced by a presenter who summarized a career that began in 1995 and included service with the department since 1998. The presenter said Combs has advanced through patrol and investigative ranks, held instructor roles and specialized assignments, and overseen a department “with more than 40 employees, 42 to be exact, including 35 full-time sworn” personnel. After the oath, Combs thanked the mayor and board and said he looks forward to working with the community: “I look forward to working with all of you, and I truly appreciate your continued support.”
The board also swore in Kristen Koehler to the rank of deputy chief. The presenter noted Koehler joined the department in 2004 and has served as an evidence technician, juvenile officer, detective sergeant and commander; she has worked on a county major-crimes task force and completed leadership programs at Northwestern University. In brief remarks during the oath sequence, Koehler affirmed her commitment to discharge the duties of deputy chief.
Nicholas (Nick) Blaire was promoted and sworn in as sergeant. The presenter said Blaire began as a dispatcher in 2006, became a patrol officer in 2016, and has served in investigative roles, as a field training officer, evidence custodian and as a crash-investigation specialist; the presenter noted Blaire completed specialized crash-reconstruction training.
Board approval for the appointments followed a motion, second and roll-call vote in which trustees present voted to carry the measures. After the swearing-in, meeting participants thanked outgoing leadership and the board continued with the meeting’s regular agenda.
What happens next: The board implemented the appointments immediately and the newly sworn officers assumed their duties as described in the meeting remarks. No additional formal actions related to these personnel items were recorded during the session.
