MORTON, Ill. — After all mentions of longtime Morton Police Chief Craig Hilliard disappeared from the Village of Morton’s website earlier this week and he was not present at Monday’s Village Board meeting, Hilliard announced Thursday he is retiring.
“I have recently reached two milestones in my life; one is turnig [sic] 60 years of age, and the second is achieving 34 years of service,” he said in a letter addressed to Mayor Jeffrey Kauffman.
“In achieving these two milestones, I have reached a crossroad in my life as I am looking at heading into a new chapter; that being retirement.”
The status of Hilliard became further conspicuous after Village personnel held an executive session during Monday’s meeting regarding personnel, but have not commented on the happenings of that meeting.
The Village responded Thursday to Morton’s retirement announcement with the following statement:
Mayor Kaufman has received the resignation of Craig Hilliard from his position as Chief of Police of the
Village of Morton, effective June 30, 2020. The Village of Morton thanks Chief Hilliard for his 37 years of
loyal and dedicated service to the Village of Morton, and wishes him well in retirement. A special
meeting of the Board of Trustees will be held on Monday June 22, 2020, for action by the Board of
Trustees on the nomination by the Mayor of Deputy Chief Jason Miller to the position of Chief of Police
for the Village of Morton. Please visit the Village’s website, www.morton-il.gov, for information on
public participation in Monday’s meeting.
Village Administrator Julie Smick said no further comment will be available.
