Brian Cunningham Brings 30 Years Of Experience With Naperville Police Department
Brian Cunningham | Incoming Woodridge Police Chief
The village of Woodridge announced this week that Brian Cunningham was hired as the village’s next chief of police.
The hire culminates a statewide search and recruitment process that included gathering input from the community at large and a community interview panel, which reflected the leadership and diversity of Woodridge. Cunningham comes from the Naperville Police Department, where he has had a 30-year distinguished law enforcement career and most recently served as deputy chief in charge of the investigations division.
“We are excited to have Brian begin his duties as Woodridge’s next chief of police,” Woodridge Mayor Gina Cunningham said. “He has an impressive background in policing and an excellent reputation in the law enforcement community. We look forward to his continuing to grow the programs and relationships the Woodridge Police Department has with our community.”
The mayor, who shared a first name with former Woodridge Police Chief Gina Grady, joked that she will now share a last name with the village’s new chief. Despite the coincidence, the two are not related.
When asked about his new designation, the Woodridge police chief said he is honored by the opportunity.
“I look forward to meeting community members, as well as getting to know the men and women that make up the Woodridge Police Department and the rest of the village of Woodridge staff,” Cunningham said.
Cunningham has more than 17 years of executive, command and supervisory experience and has 15 years of command experience with the DuPage County Major Crimes Task Force.
He obtained his bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Governor’s State University, he attended Northwestern University Staff and Command, Colorado State University Rocky Mountain Leadership course and the Senior Management Institute for Policing. He is a member of the Naperville Honor Guard Unit, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, and has served as an adjunct professor at the College of DuPage.
Cunningham is scheduled to be sworn in as police chief at the Nov. 3 Woodridge Village Board meeting.