Huntley police chief: department is down five officers; two academy slots reserved for September

Chief of Police Linda Hooten told the Village of Huntley Police Commission on May 29 that the department is currently down five officers after a recent resignation and an expected sergeant retirement.

Hooten said the Village has reserved two academy slots for September 2025 and summarized recent recruit testing and the McHenry County College consortium’s role in training. "The department is currently down five officers," Hooten said, adding that one officer resigned and relocated out of state with his family and a sergeant has indicated an upcoming retirement.

The staffing shortfall means the department is relying on upcoming recruitment cycles to replenish ranks. Hooten noted the two reserved academy spots as concrete near-term capacity for training new officers and described recent testing processes used to vet candidates. The Commission did not take further action at the meeting beyond receiving the report.

The report gives the Commission a near-term timeline for adding personnel, with academy attendance expected in September 2025; additional recruitment steps or timelines were not specified in the minutes.