Chief Harseim makes a final call


Retired Coal City Police chief Chris Harseim was on the hunt for suspects until the very end.
Two nights before his last day as a police officer, Harseim was out until midnight with fellow officers searching for two suspects who had stolen a car and abandoned it in Coal City.
“I suppose it would have been a nice feather in my cap if I had been the one to find them but that’s not my point,” Harseim said. “It was just part of the job, to be up late, and I signed up for that 30 years ago. I knew what I was getting into, that it’s not a normal 9-to-5 job being a police officer. You’re really on duty 24/7. Like other officers, I missed birthdays and a lot of holidays so it’s bittersweet to be retiring.”
On Friday at 10 a.m. Mayor Dave Spesia, village trustees, police officers and family gathered in front of the police station where Harseim stepped into a squad car and made his end of watch call over the Grundy County emergency dispatch.
The dispatcher sent out an all tone alert announcing that Harseim was retiring after 30 years and 38 days.
“I’m gonna miss you all for sure. The citizens of Grundy County are very lucky to have such professional men and women at the 911 center,” Harseim responded. “I’ve been lucky to work with the best of the best in law enforcement and dispatch during my career. I would put up our county against any other county in Illinois. I’ve been fortunate to work with great officers in Coal City, and I know they will continue to provide great service to our citizens of Coal City. Godspeed and be safe. Love you guys.”
Harseim has been with the department since 1995 and served as chief since 2021, when Mayor Spesia selected him to replace Tom Best.
Harseim, 57, started his 30-plus years in law enforcement with Coal City as a patrol officer, eventually becoming a sergeant, an investigator and a master firearms instructor – he still maintains an expert rating as a marksman. He also worked part-time as a police officer in his hometown of Morris from 1991 to 2021.
“I have a lot of emotions making my final dispatch. A lot of people that I've worked with a long time in dispatch, the fire department, the school system, trustees, I will miss. But as you can see I’ve had strong family support and it’s time to spend more time with my wife, my daughter and son in law and my grandson.
“I hired 10 guys since I was chief of police, so it's been a bittersweet ending for me. I leave knowing our department is fully staffed, and got them up to speed where people need to be.”
“We have a great community here and there has been super support. The mayor and trustees are pro law enforcement and I leave feeling the village is in good hands.”