History

Photo Gallery

View photos of the Hanover Park Police Department over the years. 

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  1. 1950s
  2. 1960s
  3. 1970s
  4. 1990s
  5. 2000s
  6. 2010s

1950s

The Village of Hanover Park was incorporated on August 14, 1958 with a population of 305. Clyde West was appointed the first Police Chief. Chief West used his house as the village’s first Police Department. His house was located at the southeast corner of Evergreen and Church. He resigned in February 1959.

Carl Ahlstrand, a trustee, volunteered to take his place as acting Chief. Chief Ahlstrand was tragically killed on February 22, 1959 when a semi-truck struck him after he had pulled over a speeding car in the area of Lake and Walnut. While Chief Ahlstrand was questioning the two people in the car, a semi-truck driver lost control of his truck and smashed into the two cars killing Chief Ahlstrand and the two people in the speeding car. Chief Ahlstrand's name is on the National Law Enforcement Memorial in Washington, D.C. (Panel 15, W-3). The year Chief Ahlstrand died 102 other officers nationwide were killed in the line of duty.

Walter Cliff who was with Chief Ahlstrand at the time of the crash and had been injured in that crash was then appointed to serve as the village’s third Police Chief.