The City of Galesburg Police Department has selected a new Deputy Chief to replace Deputy Chief Hostens who accepted the position of Chief of Police for Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin, in June of 2023. Lieutenant Kevin Legate of the Galesburg Police Department will begin his duties as Deputy Chief on July 31, 2023. A swearing-in ceremony is scheduled for July 31st at 10 AM in Council chambers in City Hall, located at 55 West Tompkins Street. The public is invited to attend.
“We are pleased to announce the selection of Kevin Legate as the next Deputy Police Chief,” said Interim City Manager Wayne Carl. “I am confident his skills and experience make him the ideal candidate to successfully take on this leadership role within the Police Department.”
“I am honored to have been selected as the Deputy Police Chief,” said Legate. “I look forward to continuing to serve the citizens of Galesburg, developing the potential of personnel within our organization, and implementing goals and initiatives to make our community a safe place for residents to call home.”
An internal search was conducted to fill the position, with seven well-qualified internal applicants interviewing for the Deputy Police Chief position. Lt. Legate rose to the top of a very competitive pool of applicants through his extensive and varied law enforcement experience and productive leadership style.
Legate began his law enforcement career as a patrol officer for Rock Island before joining the Galesburg Police Department in 2001 as a patrol officer. He subsequently served as a MEG Agent with the Peoria Multi-County Narcotic Unit before returning to the Galesburg Police Department in 2009 as an Investigator. Since then, he rose through the ranks to serve as a Sergeant, Lieutenant and now Deputy Police Chief with the Galesburg Police Department.
Deputy Chief Legate graduated from Western Illinois University with a Bachelor of Law Enforcement and Justice Administration. Through his education and work history, he possesses many of the key attributes to excel as the Deputy Police Chief, including supervision of personnel, policy development, and knowledge and implementation of policing best practices.
