Veteran Oswego Officer Chosen as Baird's Successor

The Oswego Village Board on Tuesday night voted unanimously to name Capt. Jeff Burgner the new Oswego police chief.

Burgner, who has been with the department since 1996, will take over for Chief Dwight Baird, who will become Kendall County Sheriff in January 2015.

Burgner, a graduate of Naperville North High School, also serves as the department's spokesman. Last month, he helped coordinate an active shooter training at Oswego East High School. The drill was intended to not only prepare first responders for a worst-case scenario, but to help streamline communication among police, fire, local hospitals and the media in case of a major emergency.

In the months to come, Burgner said he will likely hand off his role as Oswego Police Department spokesman to another officer.

"My primary function between now and November will be to provide a seamless transition" as he take over Baird's role, Burgner said.

One other Oswego captain and one sergeant also applied for the job. 

"I don't envy the village board being in the position to make that decision," Burgner said Wednesday, adding, "I was humbled and I'm extremely excited" to learn he'd been chosen for the position.

Burgner said he will likely be sworn in sometime in November.

"What's fortunate is I've got a great foundation to build on," Burgner said, adding, "I believe in the philosophies that [Baird] has carried through."