People Profile: Police Chief Daniel Meyers

Montgomery's new was opened on July 24, 2005. It's not the only thing new over there on Civic Center Drive, though: the station is the office location of the newly-appointed police chief Daniel C. Meyers, his officers and dispatch staff. 

Daniel Carl Meyers was born in Aurora to Thomas and Geri Meyers. His dad was a banker at Old Second National Bank in Aurora retiring after 33 years. His mother was an executive secretary at Countrywide Nursing Home. His two brothers are Jeffrey, who died in 2007 of cancer, and Thomas P. Meyers, Jr. who is Montgomery’s fire chief.

Daniel Meyers attended Our Lady of Good Counsel grade school and Aurora Central Catholic High School. He graduated from Waubonsee Community College with an associate degree in criminal justice in 1981, and then began work on his B.A. at Aurora University in criminal justice, which he completed in 1986. He has since attended over 1,000 additional hours of special police training seminars.

In 2008 he attended the prestigious FBI National Academy Program at Quantico, Virginia graduating in December, 2008. His class had 256 other graduating law enforcement officers from all 50 states including both men and women.         

“When I was about eight years old, I met Lt. Cecil Hart, of the Aurora Police Department, at an event at school," Meyers said. "I knew right then I wanted to be a policeman. He became my friend and mentor. There was never any waver. My Dad and brothers and I would listen to the police scanner and drive in the station wagon to watch the police in action."   

Meyers began working with the Montgomery Police Department in February, 1985.

“My first year was rather memorable because there were six or eight fatal car crashes, and since I was the accident investigator for the department then, I had to handle the cases," he said. "I spent most of my time in a patrol car and dealing with speeders, traffic issues and DUI drivers."

Meyers was promoted to rank of sergeant in 1988 and served as detective sergeant from 1999 to 2006. That year, he was named deputy chief, and managed day-to-day operations involving sworn police personnel, including the supervision of four police sergeants.

"The Department has 21 sworn officers, of whom two are women officers," Meyers said. "Our dispatch/911 center is handled by nine employees now. We receive about 500 calls each week, but we are the dispatch center also for Aurora Township Fire Department, Montgomery Fire, Sugar Grove Fire, Sugar Grove Police, and Waubonsee Community College’s public safety division. We relay those messages via radio contact.”

On November 22, 2010, Meyers was sworn in as Montgomery’s chief of police, at a salary of $107,538. He had been working as acting chief of police since last March, following the retirement of his colleague and mentor, Dennis Schmidt.  

“Dan understands that integrity is everything," Schmidt said. "He knows the importance of ethics in law enforcement, how critical it is to be truthful, trustworthy and honest. Dan has the courage of his convictions and the ability to communicate them. He’s a team player and knows how to prioritize tasks.”

In 2007, Meyers was given the “Stars of Distinction” award by the Chicago Crime Commission for his assistance in “Operation First Degree Burn," which led to 31 gang members being charged in 22 murders. He had been nominated by retired Federal Bureau of Investigation officer Paul Bock.

Meyers is president of the Montgomery Police Pension Board, secretary of the Kane County Chief’s of Police Association, and is a member of the FBI National Academy Associates, International Chiefs of Police. He has been nominated six times for the “Officer of the Year” award.

When asked to pick a case that stands out, Meyers pointed to a homicide in 2003 that he worked on with Aurora Police Detective Mike Nilles.

"Our star witness was murdered in 2008 so the case is on hold right now," he said. "The suspect is incarcerated on other charges so the public is not at risk in any way."

“The three qualities I value the most are honesty, integrity and perseverance," Meyers said. "I work the hardest I can all day, every day and I knew it would pay off. My final professional goal was to be the chief of police." 

Chief of Police Daniel C. Meyers is an outstanding example of a life well-lived as a true public servant. His gracious good humor, intelligence and commitment are tangible evidence of a man happy in his chosen field while contributing to the village community on a daily basis. One of his legacies will also be his son Christopher, 19, who is currently studying criminal justice at Waubonsee Community College.