The Chief of the Blandinsville Police department is leaving to take a position with the McDonough County Sheriff’s Office.
For the last seven years Justin Lundgren split his time between being Blandinsville’s Chief and a Lieutenant with the McDonough County Sheriff’s Office.
Now after being promoted to Chief Deputy, he said he just doesn’t have time for both jobs.
"The village is a great place, a very proactive and great Village Board of Trustees, just a great place to work and great citizens and I was reluctant to leave," he said, "but it's one of those things there's only enough time with family and everything else there's only enough time to do that."
Lundgren said that all chiefs across Illinois, no matter the size of community they serve, have to to meet the same standards and take the same training.
So, he said, his time as chief helped him prepare for a more senior role at the McDonough County Sheriff’s Office.
Lundgren said he’s proud that as Chief he established a non-emergency phone line that was staffed by people. The previous line was automated.
He’s also proud of the Blandinsville Police Department’s website, which he said was a project of his and was created at no expense to taxpayers.
