Two weeks after being named Oak Park’s first ever woman police chief, Shatonya Johnson was sworn in Friday, her mother at the ceremony to pin the top cop badge on Johnson.
Johnson first stepped into the interim police chief role earlier this year, then became the village’s first woman to hold the position when her appointment to chief was announced by Village Manager Kevin Jackson on Oct. 25.
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Jackson announced at the time that Johnson had been appointed chief of police “following a comprehensive national search.”
Her appointment was effective Nov. 7, he said in a news release.
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She was sworn in at Village Hall Friday with her family, village leaders — including Jackson — and others in attendance.
A 23-year veteran of the Oak Park Police Department, since April Jackson has been the interim chief, stepping in following the retirement of LaDon Reynolds.
“Chief Johnson was more than prepared to step up as the absolute best person to continue serving our vibrant community in this capacity. Her experience and institutional knowledge of Oak Park are invaluable assets, as are her genuine concern and compassion for others.”
Jackson’s office makes the police chief appointment and the position reports to the village manager, a village spokesman told Pioneer Press.
Johnson is the 14th police chief in village history, according to the release. She began with the Oak Park Police Department in 2000 as a patrol officer. Since then, she has also worked in the community as a neighborhood resource officer, juvenile specialist, detective, internal affairs sergeant, detective commander, deputy chief and interim chief.
“As a leader, I value community engagement and I will continue to instill this concept of policing within our department. I am excited to embrace my new role alongside the talented men and women of the Oak Park Police Department as we strive to provide excellent police services,” Johnson said when her appointment was announced.
