Patrick J. Solar, Ph.D.

Chief of Police

Badge #701

Personal Information

Patrick Solar was appointed Chief of Police for the City of Genoa on November 5th, 2002. He started his career with the Sycamore Police Department in 1981 as a police officer. He was appointed Detective in 1982, Sergeant in 1984, and Lieutenant in 1985. He has extensive training and experience in most areas of law enforcement including Traffic Enforcement, Criminal Investigation, Crime Scene Processing, Police Photography, Drug Investigation, Homicide Investigation, Street Drug Interdiction, Gang Crimes, Terrorism and Criminal Intelligence. Police management and supervision are particular areas of expertise as he has served in a management and supervisory capacity for most of his career.

Chief Solar's formal education includes an Associate Degree specializing in Law Enforcement from Kishwaukee Community College, 1985. A Bachelor's Degree in Political Science from Northern Illinois University, 1989. A Master's degree in Public Administration from NIU in 1992, and a Doctorate in Political Philosophy from NIU in 1999. Solar is also a 1997 graduate of the FBI National Academy.

Solar has authored a few articles relating to various police management issues including "The Organizational Context of Effective Policing" The Police Chief, 1999. "Changing Organizational Culture through Performance Appraisal" Law & Order, 1997.  "The Justification of Police Training and Other Budget Strategies" Law & Order 1997.Solar has served as an Adjunct Professor of Sociology at Northern, Illinois University, an Instructor in the Law Enforcement Program at Kishwaukee Community College, and as an instructor for the Illinois Law Enforcement Officers Training Board.

Solar is a State Certified Police Chief.  An honor bestowed upon police chief's who apply for this designation through the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police Certification program.  The process consists of application review to ensure the chief has adequate experience, education and is involved in the community they serve.  Next is a written examination testing the chief's knowledge in the fundamental areas of police management and finally an oral exam before a board of Illinois police chiefs who are widely recognized for their professional competency. 

Solar currently resides in Sycamore with his Wife, Esther "Sam" Solar of 18 years, and his Sons Charles and Brent. He is a member of Rotary International and is an Assistant Scout Master. In his free time he works on his golf game and does a little hunting and fishing.

Professional Philosophy

"Police Officers provide the essence of justice for the vast majority of persons in our American Society." Our criminal justice system consists of the police, prosecutors and courts, however, very few individuals ever experience anything beyond the actions of the police. Our police respond to crimes for which someone may or may not get arrested and proceed any further into the criminal justice system but criminal investigation is actually only a small part of what the police do every day. They respond to disturbances, intervene in crisis situations, counsel individuals, mediate disputes, report facts related to traffic collisions, settle civil complaints, locate missing persons, provide security at disaster and accident scenes, investigate every conceivable situation of interest, and, of course, they enforce traffic laws to help keep our streets safe.

Being effective in this capacity requires a tremendous number of varied abilities ranging from the technology of Criminal Investigation to exemplary interpersonal communication skills. Most of all, it requires a level of maturity, sound judgment, self-control and patience seldom seen in any other profession. Those who can do this day-after-day while, at the same time, being challenged by the boredom, temptations and shear terror that is part of the job have my utmost respect.

The essence of truly effective policing rests in our knowledge of what is most important to the communities we serve. For the most part, policing is not about crime fighting, rather, it has to do with dealing with issues, problems, and concerns that have a direct impact on the quality of life we enjoy. I emphasize a continual commitment to educating our citizens and to gaining their voluntary compliance with the law, especially as it relates to local ordinance issues. When we are not otherwise engaged investigating crime, apprehending criminals, investigating traffic accidents, writing traffic citations and intervening in crisis situations we should be paying attention to those issues of lesser priority but of equal importance to our communities. Effective policing is not indicated by a low crime rate, it is indicated by community satisfaction with police services and that means doing those things that are most important to our communities.